Methods of identifying compounds having nuclear receptor negative hormone and/or antagonist activities

ABSTRACT

Methods of characterizing and identifying negative hormones of nuclear receptors. Also disclosed are methods of making modulators of retinoid nuclear receptor transactivation activity, assays for agonists, antagonists, and negative hormones of the RAR receptor, and specific retinoid modulators of retinoid nuclear receptors.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/042,943, filed Mar. 17, 1998 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,218,128 , which was a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/613,863, filed on Mar. 11, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,699, which claimed the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the three following U.S. applications, each of which was filed as a nonprovisional application and converted to a provisional application by separate petitions filed on Jan. 31, 1996: application Ser. No. 08/522,778, filed Sep. 1, 1995, which became provisional application Ser. No. 60/019,015; application Ser. No. 08/522,779, filed Sep. 1, 1995 which became provisional application Ser. No. 60/064,853; and application Ser. No. 08/542,648, filed Oct. 13, 1995 which became provisional application Ser. No. 60/020,501. The complete disclosures of these related applications is hereby incorporated herein by this reference thereto.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel compounds having retinoid negative hormone and/or retinoid antagonist-like biological activities. More specifically, the invention relates to 4-aryl substituted benzopyran, 4-aryl substituted benzothiopyran, 4-aryl substituted 1,2-dihydroquinoline and 8-aryl substituted 5,6-dihydronaphthalene derivatives which may also be substituted by a substituted 3-oxo-1-propenyl group. These novel compounds have retinoid antagonist like-activity and are useful for treating or preventing retinoid and vitamin A and vitamin A precursor induced toxicity in mammals and as an adjunct to treatment of mammals with retinoids to prevent or ameliorate unwanted or undesired side effects. The invention further relates to the use of retinoid negative hormones for increasing the biological activities of other retinoids and steroid hormones and inhibiting the basal activity of unliganded retinoic acid receptors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Compounds which have retinoid-like activity are well known in the art, and are described in numerous United States and other patents and in scientific publications. It is generally known and accepted in the art that retinoid-like activity is useful for treating mammals, including humans, in order to cure or alleviate the symptoms associated with numerous diseases and conditions.

Retinoids (vitamin A and its derivatives) are known to have broad activities, including effects on cell proliferation and differentiation, in a variety of biological systems. This activity has made retinoids useful in the treatment of a variety of diseases, including dermatological disorders and cancers. The prior art has developed a large number of chemical compounds which have retinoid-like biological activity, and voluminous patent and chemical literature exists describing such compounds. The relevant patent literature includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,980,369, 5,006,550, 5,015,658, 5,045,551, 5,089,509, 5,134,159, 5,162,546, 5,234,926, 5,248,777, 5,264,578, 5,272,156, 5,278,318, 5,324,744, 5,346,895, 5,346,915, 5,348,972, 5,348,975, 5,380,877, 5,399,561, 5,407,937, (assigned to the same assignee as the present application) and patents and publications cited therein, which particularly describe or relate to chroman, thiochroman and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline derivatives which have retinoid-like biological activity. In addition, several applications are pending which are assigned to the assignee of the present application, and which are directed to further compounds having retinoid-like activity.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,740,519 (Shroot et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,826,969 (Maignan et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,055 (Loeliger et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,130,335 (Chandraratna et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,037,825 (Klaus et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,113 (Chandraratna et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,840 (Chandraratna), U.S. Pat. No. 5,344,959 (Chandraratna), U.S. Pat. No. 5,130,335 (Chandraratna et al.), Published European Patent Application Nos. 0 176 034 A (Wuest et al.), 0 350 846 A (Klaus et al.), 0 176 032 A (Frickel et al.), 0 176 033 A (Frickel et al.), 0 253 302 A (Klaus et al.), 0 303 915 A (Bryce et al.), UK Patent Application GB 2190378 A (Klaus et al.), German Patent Application Nos. DE 3715955 A1 (Klaus et al.), DE 3602473 A1 (Wuest et al., and the articles J. Amer. Acad. Derm. 15: 756-764 (1986) (Sporn et al.), Chem. Pharm. Bull. 33: 404-407 (1985) (Shudo et al.), J. Med. Chem. 31: 2182-2192 (1988) (Kagechika et al.), Chemistry and Biology of Synthetic Retinoids CRC Press Inc. 1990 pp. 334-335, 354 (Dawson et al.), describe or relate to compounds which include a tetrahydronaphthyl moiety and have retinoid-like or related biological activity. U.S. Pat. No. 4,391,731 (Boller et al.) describes tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives which are useful in liquid crystal compositions.

An article by Kagechilka et al. in J. Med. Chem. 32:834 (1989) describe certain 6-(3-oxo-1-propenyl)-1,2,3,4-tetramethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene derivatives and related flavone compounds having retinoid-like activity. The articles by Shudo et al. in Chem. Pharm. Bull. 33:404 (1985) and by Jetten et al. in Cancer Research 47:3523 (1987) describe or relate to further 3-oxo-1-propenyl derivatives (chalcone compounds) and their retinoid-like or related biological activity.

Unfortunately, compounds having retinoid-like activity (retinoids) also cause a number of undesired side effects at therapeutic dose levels, including headache, teratogenesis, mucocutaneous toxicity, musculoskeletal toxicity, dyslipidemias, skin irritation, headache and hepatotoxicity. These side effects limit the acceptability and utility of retinoids for treating disease.

It is now general knowledge in the art that two main types of retinoid receptors exist in mammals (and other organisms). The two main types or families of receptors are respectively designated as the RARs and RXRs. Within each type there are subtypes: in the RAR family the subtypes are designated RAR-α, RAR-β and RAR-γ, in RXR the subtypes are: RXR-α, RXB-β and RXR-γ. Both families of receptors are transcription factors that can be distinguished from each other based on their ligand binding specificities. All-trans-RA (ATRA) binds and activates a class of retinoic acid receptors (RARs) that includes RAR-α, RAR-β and RAR-γ. A different ligand, 9-cis-RA (9C-RA), binds and activates both the RARs and members of the retinoid X receptor (RXR) family.

It has also been established in the art that the distribution of the two main retinoid receptor types, and of the several subtypes is not uniform in the various tissues and organs of mammalian organisms. Moreover, it is generally accepted in the art that many unwanted side effects of retinoids are mediated by one or more of the RAR receptor subtypes. Accordingly, among compounds having agonist-like activity at retinoid receptors, specificity or selectivity for one of the main types or families, and even specificity or selectivity for one or more subtypes within a family of receptors, is considered a desirable pharmacological property.

Relatively recently compounds have been developed in the art which bind to RAR receptors without triggering the response or responses that are triggered by agonists of the same receptors. The compounds or agents which bind to RAR receptors without triggering a “retinoid” response are thus capable of blocking (to lesser or greater extent) the activity of RAR agonists in biological assays and systems. More particularly, regarding the scientific and patent literature in this field, published PCT Application WO 94/14777 describes certain heterocyclic carboxylic acid derivatives which bind to RAR retinoid receptors and are said in the application to be useful for treatment of certain diseases or conditions, such as acne, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and viral infections. A similar disclosure is made in the article by Yoshimura et al. J. Med. Chem. 38: 3163-3173 (1995). Kaneko et al. Med. Chem. Res. 1:220-225 (1991); Apfel et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89: 7129-7133 Augusty 1992 Cell Biology; Eckhardt et al. Toxicology Letters 70:299-308 (1994); Keidel et al. Molecular and Cellular Biology 14:287-298 (1994); and Eyrolles et al. J. Med. Chem. 37: 1508-1517 (1994) describe compounds which have antagonist like activity at one or more of the RAR retinoid subtypes.

In addition to undesirable side-effects of therapy with retinoid compounds, there occurs occasionally a serious medical condition caused by vitamin A or vitamin A precursor overdose, resulting either from the excessive intake of vitamin supplements or the ingestion of liver of certain fish and animals that contain high levels of the vitamin. The chronic or acute toxicities observed with hypervitaminosis A syndrome include headache, skin peeling, bone toxicity, dyslipidemias, etc. In recent years, it has become apparent that the toxicities observed with vitamin A analogs, i.e., retinoids, essentially recapitulate those of hypervitaminosis A syndrome, suggesting a common biological cause, i.e., RAR activation. These toxicities are presently treated mainly by supportive measures and by abstaining from further exposure to the causative agent, whether it be liver, vitamin supplements, or retinoids. While some of the toxicities resolve with time, others (e.g., premature epiphyseal plate closure) are permanent.

Generally speaking, specific antidotes are the best treatment for poisoning by pharmacological agents, but only about two dozen chemicals or classes of chemicals out of thousands in existence have specific known antidotes. A specific antidote would clearly be of value in the treatment of hypervitaminosis A and retinoid toxicity. Indeed, as increasingly potent retinoids are used clinically, a specific antidote for retinoid poisoning could be life saving.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention covers compounds of Formula 1

wherein X is S, O, NR′ where R′ is H or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, or

X is [C(R₁)₂]_(n) where R₁ is independently H or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, and n is an integer between 0 and 2;

R₂ is hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, F, Cl, Br, I, CF₃, fluoro substituted alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, OH, SH, alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbons, or alkylthio of 1 to 6 carbons;

R₃ is hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons or F;

m is an integer having the value of 0-3;

o is an integer having the value of 0-3;

Z is —C≡C—,

-   -   —N═N—,     -   —N═CR₁—,     -   —CR₁═N,     -   —(CR₁═CR₁)_(n′)— where n′ is an integer having the value 0-5,     -   —CO—NR₁—,     -   —CS—NR₁—,     -   —NR₁—CO,     -   —NR₁—CS,     -   —COO,     -   —OCO—;     -   —CSO—;     -   —OCS—;

Y is a phenyl or naphthyl group, or heteroaryl selected from a group consisting of pyridyl, thienyl, furyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, imidazolyl and pyrrazolyl, said phenyl and heteroaryl groups being optionally substituted with one or two R₂ groups, or

when Z is —(CR₁═CR₁)_(n′)— and n′ is 3, 4 or 5 then Y represents a direct valence bond between said (CR₂═CR₂)_(n′) group and B;

A is (CH₂)_(q) where q is 0-5, lower branched chain alkyl having 3-6 carbons, cycloalkyl having 3-6 carbons, alkenyl having 2-6 carbons and 1 or 2 double bonds, alkynyl having 2-6 carbons and 1 or 2 triple bonds;

B is hydrogen, COOH or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, COOR₈, CONR₉R₁₀, —CH₂OH, CH₂OR₁₁, CH₂OCOR₁₁, CHO, CH(OR₁₂)₂, CHOR₁₃O, —COR₇, CR₇(OR₁₂)₂, CR₇OR₁₃O, or tri-lower alkylsilyl, where R₇ is an alkyl, cycloalkyl or alkenyl group containing 1 to 5 carbons, R₈ is an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbons or trimethylsilylalkyl where the alkyl group has 1 to 10 carbons, or a cycloalkyl group of 5 to 10 carbons, or R₈ is phenyl or lower alkylphenyl, R₉ and R₁₀ independently are hydrogen, an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbons, or a cycloalkyl group of 5-10 carbons, or phenyl or lower alkylphenyl, R₁₁ is lower alkyl, phenyl or lower alkylphenyl, R₁₂ is lower alkyl, and R₁₃ is divalent alkyl radical of 2-5 carbons, and

R₁₄ is (R₁₅)_(r)-phenyl, (R₁₅)_(r)-naphthyl, or (R₁₅)_(r)-heteroaryl where the heteroaryl group has 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N, r is an integer having the values of 0-5, and

R₁₅ is independently H, F, Cl, Br, I, NO₂, N(R₈)₂, N(R₈)COR₈, NR₈CON(R₈)₂, OH, OCOR₈, OR₈, CN, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbons, fluoro substituted alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbons, an alkenyl group having 1 to 10 carbons and 1 to 3 double bonds, alkynyl group having 1 to 10 carbons and 1 to 3 triple bonds, or a trialkylsilyl or trialkylsilyloxy group where the alkyl groups independently have 1 to 6 carbons.

The present invention further covers compounds of Formula 101

wherein X is S, O, NR′ where R′ is H or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, or

X is [C(R₁)₂]_(n) where R₁ is independently H or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, and n is an integer between 0 and 2;

R₂ is hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, F, Cl, Br, I, CF₃, fluoro substituted alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, OH, SH, alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbons, or alkylthio of 1 to 6 carbons;

R₃ is hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons or F;

m is an integer having the value of 0-3;

o is an integer having the value of 0-3;

Y is a phenyl or naphthyl group, or heteroaryl selected from a group consisting of pyridyl, thienyl, furyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, imidazolyl and pyrrazolyl, said phenyl and heteroaryl groups being optionally substituted with one or two R₂ groups;

A is (CH₂)_(q) where q is 0-5, lower branched chain alkyl having 3-6 carbons, cycloalkyl having 3-6 carbons, alkenyl having 2-6 carbons and 1 or 2 double bonds, alkynyl having 2-6 carbons and 1 or 2 triple bonds;

B is hydrogen, COOH or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, COOR₈, CONR₉R₁₀, —CH₂OH, CH₂OR₁₁, CH₂OCOR₁₁, CHO, CH(OR₁₂)₂, CHOR₁₃O, —COR₇, CR₇(OR₁₂), CR₇OR₁₃O, or tri-lower alkylsilyl, where R₇ is an alkyl, cycloalkyl or alkenyl group containing 1 to 5 carbons, R₈ is an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbons or trimethylsilylalkyl where the alkyl group has 1 to 10 carbons, or a cycloalkyl group of 5 to 10 carbons, or R₈ is phenyl or lower alkylphenyl, R₉ and R₁₀ independently are hydrogen, an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbons, or a cycloalkyl group of 5-10 carbons, or phenyl or lower alkylphenyl, R₁₁ is lower alkyl, phenyl or lower alkylphenyl, R₁₂ is lower alkyl, and R₁₃ is divalent alkyl radical of 2-5 carbons, and

R₁₄ is (R₁₅)_(r)-phenyl, (R₁₅)_(r)-naphthyl, or (R₁₅)_(r)-heteroaryl where the heteroaryl group has 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N, r is an integer having the values of 0-5, and

R₁₅ is independently H, F, Cl, Br, I, NO₂, N(R₈)₂, N(R₈)COR₈, NR₈CON(R₈)₂, OH, OCOR₈, OR₈, CN, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbons, fluoro substituted alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbons, an alkenyl group having 1 to 10 carbons and 1 to 3 double bonds, alkynyl group having 1 to 10 carbons and 1 to 3 triple bonds, or a trialkylsilyl or trialkylsilyloxy group where the alkyl groups independently have 1 to 6 carbons;

R₁₆ is H, lower alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons;

R₁₇ is H, lower alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, OH or OCOR₁₁, and

p is zero or 1, with the proviso that when p is 1 then there is no R₁₇ substituent group, and m is an integer between 0 and 2.

The compounds of the present invention are useful for preventing certain undesired side effects of retinoids which are administered for the treatment or prevention of certain diseases or conditions. For this purpose the compounds of the invention may be coadministered with retinoids. The compounds of the present invention are also useful in the treatment of acute or chronic toxicity resulting from overdose or poisoning by retinoid drugs or Vitamin A.

The present invention additionally relates to the use of RAR antagonists for blocking all or some RAR receptor sites in biological systems, including mammals, to prevent or diminish action of RAR agonists on said receptor sites. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of RAR antagonists for (a) the prevention and (b) the treatment of retinoid (including vitamin A or vitamin A precursor) chronic or acute toxicity and side effects of retinoid therapy.

In one particular aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of treating a pathological condition in a mammal. The conditions treated are associated with a retinoic acid receptor activity. This method involves administering to the mammal a retinoid antagonist or negative hormone capable of binding to one of the following retinoic acid receptor subtypes: RAR_(α), RAR_(β) and RAR_(γ). The antagonist or negative hormone is administered in an amount pharmaceutically effective to provide a therapeutic benefit against the pathological condition in the mammal.

As an antidote to acute or chronic retinoid or vitamin A poisoning the RAR antagonist can be administered to a mammal enterally, i.e., intragastric intubation or food/water admixture, or parenterally, e.g., intraperitoneally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, topically, etc. The only requirement for the route of administration is that it must allow delivery of the antagonist to the target tissue. The RAR antagonist can be formulated by itself or in combination with excipients. The RAR antagonist need not be in solution in the formulation, e.g., in the case of enteral use.

As an adjunct to therapy with retinoids and in order to prevent one or more side effects of the retinoid drug which is administered, the RAR antagonist can similarly be administered enterally or parenterally. The RAR antagonist and RAR agonist need not be administered by the same route of administration. The key is that sufficient quantities of the RAR antagonist be present continuously in the tissue of interest during exposure to the RAR agonist. For the prevention of retinoid toxicity, it is best that the RAR antagonist be administered concurrently or prior to treatment with the RAR agonist. In many situations the RAR antagonist will be administered by a different route than the agonist. For example undesirable skin effects of an enterally administered retinoid may be prevented or ameliorated by an RAR antagonist which is administered topically.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of identifying retinoid negative hormones. The method includes the following steps: obtaining transacted cells containing a reporter gene transcriptionally responsive to binding of a recombinant retinoid receptor, the recombinant retinoid receptor having at least protein domains located C-terminal to a DNA binding domain of an intact retinoid receptor, measuring a basal level of reporter gene expression in untreated transfected cells, the untreated transfected cells being propagated in the absence of an added retinoid, treating the transfected cells with a retinoid compound to be tested for negative hormone activity, measuring a level of reporter gene expression in treated cells, comparing the levels of reporter gene expression measured in treated cells and untreated cells, and identifying as retinoid negative hormones those retinoid compounds producing a lower level of reporter gene expression in treated cells compared with the basal level of reporter gene expression measured in untreated cells. In certain preferred embodiments of this method the intact receptor is an RAR-α, RAR-β or RAR-γ subtype. In other embodiments, the intact receptor is an RXR-α, RXR-β or RXR-γ subtype. The recombinant receptor can also be either a recombinant RAR or RXR receptor. In some embodiments, the recombinant receptor is a chimeric retinoid receptor having a constitutive transcription activator domain. Such a constitutive transcription activator domain can comprise a plurality of amino acids having a net negative charge or have an amino acid sequence of a viral transcription activator domain, such as the herpes simplex virus VP-16 transcription activator domain. In embodiments in which the constitutive transcription activator domain has a net negative charge, the retinoid receptor can be recombinant and have deleted therefrom a DNA binding domain, such as a DNA binding domain specific for a cis-regulatory element other than a retinoic acid responsive element. These elements include an estrogen responsive element. The transfected cell is preferably propagated in a growth medium substantially depleted of endogenous retinoids, such as one that includes activated charcoal-extracted serum. In this method, the reporter gene can be the luciferase gene, in which case, the measuring steps can involve luminometry. The reporter gene can also be the β-galactosidase gene, in which case the measuring steps would involve a β-galactosidase assay. The transfected cell can be a transfected mammalian cell, such as a Green monkey cell or a human cell.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of potentiating a pharmacologic activity of a steroid superfamily receptor agonist administered to a mammal. This method involves coadministering to the mammal with the steroid superfamily receptor agonist a composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective dose of a retinoid negative hormone to potentiate the pharmacologic activity of the steroid superfamily receptor agonist. The pharmacologic activity is measurable in a reporter gene trans-activation assay in vitro, such as by measuring anti-AP-1 activity. The pharmacologic activity to be potentiated can be an antiproliferative activity, such as activity of the type measurable in retinal pigment epithelium. The steroid superfamily receptor agonist can be any of the following: a retinoid receptor agonist, a vitamin D receptor agonist, a glucocorticoid receptor agonist, a thyroid hormone receptor agonist, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonist or an estrogen receptor agonist. The retinoid receptor agonist can be an RAR agonist, such as all-trans-retinoic acid or 13-cis retinoic acid. The retinoid receptor agonist can also be an RXR agonist. A preferred vitamin D receptor agonist is 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃. A preferred glucocorticoid receptor agonist is dexamethasone. A preferred thyroid hormone receptor agonist is 3,3′,5-triiodothyronine. The retinoid negative hormone is an RAR-specific retinoid negative hormone, which preferably has a dissociation constant less than or approximately equal to 30 nM. Example of the RAR-specific retinoid negative hormone include AGN 193109, AGN 193385, AGN 193389 and AGN 193871. The composition comprising a pharmaceutically effective dose of a retinoid negative hormone can be coadministered at the same time as the steroid superfamily agonist and be combined prior to coadministration. These can also be coadministered as separate compositions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the chemical structure of AGN 193109.

FIGS. 2A-2F are a series of line graphs showing that AGN 193109 inhibited ATRA-dependent transactivation at the RARs. FIGS. 2A and 2B represent activity at the RAR-α receptor; FIGS. 2C and 2D represent activity at the RAR-β receptor, FIGS. 2E and 2F represent activity at the RAR-γ receptor. In FIGS. 2A, 2C and 2E, open squares represent retinoic acid treatment and filled circles represent AGN 193109 treatment. In FIGS. 2B, 2D and 2F the single lines represent luciferase activity measured after treatment with 10⁻⁸ M ATRA and variable concentrations of AGN 193109.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are line graphs representing luciferase activity detected in CV-1 cells transfected with reporter plasmid ERE-tk-Luc and expression plasmid ER-RAR-α and stimulated with ATRA (FIG. 3A) or AGN 193109 (FIG. 3B) at various concentrations. Data points represent the mean±SEM of three independent luciferase determinations. The results of transfections carried out using different amounts of co-transfected ER-RAR-α (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 μg/well) are indicated in each figure.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are line graphs representing luciferase activity in CV-1 cells transfected with reporter plasmid ERE-tk-Luc and expression plasmid ER-RAR-β and stimulated with ATRA (FIG. 4A) or AGN 193109 (FIG. 4B) at various concentrations. Data points represent the mean±SEM of three independent luciferase determinations. The results of transfections carried out using different amounts of co-transfected ER-RAR-β (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 μg/well) are indicated in each figure.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are line graphs representing luciferase activity detected in CV-1 cells transfected with reporter plasmid ERE-tk-Luc and expression plasmid ER-RAR-γ and stimulated with ATRA (FIG. 5A) or AGN 193109 (FIG. 5B) at various concentrations. Data points represent the mean±SEM of three independent luciferase determinations. The results of transfections carried out using different amounts of co-transfected ER-RAR-γ (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 μg/well) are indicated in each figure.

FIG. 6 shows ATRA and AGN 193109 dose responses of CV-1 cells cotransfected with the ERE-tk-Luc reporter plasmid and either the ER-RXR-α chimeric receptor expression plasmid alone, or in combination with the RAR-γ-VP-16 expression plasmid. ER-RXR-α cotransfected cells were treated with ATRA (square) and AGN 193109 (diamond). Cells cotransfected with the combination of ER-RXR-α and RAR-γ-VP-16 were treated with ATRA (circle) or AGN 193109 (triangle).

FIG. 7 shows a line graph representing luciferase activity measurements recorded in lysates of CV-1 cells transfected with the ERE-tk-Luc reporter and ER-RAR-γ expression construct and then treated with ATRA at 10⁻⁸ M and the test compounds at the concentrations indicated on the horizontal axis. The test compounds were AGN 193109 (square), AGN 193357 (open diamond), AGN 193385 (circle), AGN 193389 (triangle), AGN 193840 (hatched square) and AGN 192870 (filled diamond).

FIG. 8 shows a lint graph representing luciferase activity measurements recorded in lysates of CV-1 cells transfected with the ERE-tk-Luc reporter and RAR-γ-VP-16 and ER-RXR-α expression constructs and then treated with the test compounds at the concentrations indicated on the horizontal axis. The test compounds were ATRA (open square), AGN 193109 (open circle), AGN 193174 (open triangle), AGN 193199 (hatched square), AGN 193385 (hatched circle), AGN 193389 (inverted triangle), AGN 193840 (diagonally filled square) and AGN 193871 (half-filled diamond).

FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C schematically diagram a mechanism whereby AGN 193109 can modulate the interaction between the RAR (shaded box) and negative coactivator proteins (−) illustrated in the context of a transactivation assay. FIG. 9A shows that negative coactivator proteins and positive coactivator proteins (+) are in a binding equilibrium with the RAR. In the absence of a ligand, basal level transcription of the reporter gene results. As illustrated in FIG. 9B, addition of an RAR agonist promotes the association of positive coactivator proteins with the RAR and results in upregulated reporter gene transcription. As illustrated in FIG. 9C, addition of AGN 193109 promotes the association of negative coactivator proteins with the RAR and prevents reporter gene transcription.

FIG. 10 is a bar graph showing the inhibition of TPA-induced Str-AP1-CAT expression as a function of AGN 191183 concentration (10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻¹² M) with the AGN 193109 concentration held constant at 10⁻⁸ M. Results from trials conducted with AGN 191183 alone are shown as hatched bars while stripped bars represent the results from treatment with the combination of AGN 193109 and AGN 191183.

FIG. 11 schematically diagrams a mechanism whereby AGN 193109 can potentiate the activities of RARs and other nuclear receptor family members. As illustrated in the diagram, introduced RARs (open rectangles having AB-C-DEF domains) have increased sensitivity to RAR ligands in the anti-AP1 assay because the negative coactivator protein (ncp), present in limiting supply, is sequestered onto RARs thereby leading to two populations: RAR+ncp and RAR−ncp. RAR−ncp has increased sensitivity to ligands. Non-RAR nuclear factors (shaded rectangles having AB-C-DEF domains) have increased sensitivity to cognate ligands because ncp has been sequestered to the RAR by the activity of AGN 193109. The modular domains of the nuclear receptors are designated using standard nomenclature as “AB” (ligand independent transactivation domain), “C” (DNA binding domain), and “DEF” (ligand regulated transactivation domain and dimerization domain.

FIG. 12 is a line graph showing the effect of AGN 193109 on the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ dose response in CV-1 cells transfected with the MTV-DR3-Luc reporter plasmid. Transfectants were treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (filled square), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ and 10⁻⁸ M AGN 193109 (filled triangle), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ and 10⁻⁷ M AGN 193109 (filled circle).

FIG. 13 is a bar graph showing the effect of AGN 193109 (10 nM) coadministration on 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃-mediated inhibition of TPA induced Str-AP1-CAT activity. Filled bars represent inhibition of CAT activity in transfected cells treated with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ alone. Open bars represent inhibition of CAT activity in transfected cells treated with the combination of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ and AGN 193109.

FIG. 14 is a line graph showing the effect of AGN 193109 alone and in combination with AGN 191183 on HeLa cells cotransfected with RAR-γ and the RAR responsive MTV-TREp-Luc reporter construct. Drug treatments illustrated in the graph are: AGN 193109 alone (square), AGN 193109 in combination with AGN 191183 at 10⁻¹⁰ M (diamond) and AGN 193109 in combination with AGN 191183 at 10⁻⁹ M.

FIG. 15 is a line graph showing that ECE16-1 cells proliferated in response to EGF (filled square) but not in response to defined medium alone (open circle). Cells treated with AGN 193109 alone are represented by the filled triangle. The filled circles represent results obtained for cells treated with 10 nM AGN 191183 and 0-1000 nM AGN 193109.

FIG. 16 is a bar graph showing the effect of AGN 193109 on the proliferation of CaSki cells in the presence or absence of the AGN 191183 retinoid agonist. All sample groups received 20 ng/ml of epidermal growth factor (EGF) with the exception of the sample propagated in defined medium (DM) alone (open bar). Stripped bars represent samples propagated in the absence of AGN 193109. Filled bars represent samples propagated in the presence of 1000 nM AGN 193109. The concentrations of AGN 191183 used in the procedure are shown on the horizontal axis.

FIG. 17 is a dose response curve showing that AGN 193109 potentiated the antiproliferative activity of ATRA on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Samples treated with ATRA alone are represented by filled squares. Samples treated with the combination of ATRA and AGN 193109 (10⁻⁷ M) are represented by filled circles. The ATRA concentration used for treating the various samples is given on the horizontal axis.

FIG. 18 is a dose response curve showing that both 13-cis-RA and ATRA inhibited RPE cell growth, and that AGN 193109 potentiated the antiproliferative activity of 13-cis-RA. The various sample treatments shown in the dose response included 13-cis-RA alone (filled square), 13-cis-RA in combination with AGN 193109 (10⁻⁶ M) (filled circle), 13-cis-RA in combination with AGN 193109 (10⁻⁸ M) (filled triangle), and ATRA (filled diamond). The concentrations of 13-cis-RA and ATRA used in the sample treatments are shown on the horizontal axis.

FIG. 19 is a dose response curve showing that AGN 193109 potentiated the antiproliferative activity of dexamethasone in primary RPE cell cultures. The various sample treatments shown in the dose response included ATRA (filled square), dexamethasone alone (filled circle), dexamethasone in combination with AGN 193109 (10⁻⁸ M) (filled triangle), and dexamethasone in combination with AGN 193109 (10⁻⁶ M) (filled diamond). The concentrations of dexamethasone and ATRA used in the sample treatments are shown on the horizontal axis.

FIG. 20 is a dose response curve showing that AGN 193109 potentiated the antiproliferative activity of thyroid hormone (T3) in primary RPE cell cultures. The various sample treatments shown in the dose response included ATRA (filled square), T3 alone (filled circle), T3 in combination with AGN 193109 (10⁻⁸ M) (filled triangle), T3 in combination with AGN 193109 (10⁻⁶ M) (filled diamond). The concentrations of T3 and ATRA used in the sample treatments are shown on the horizontal axis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definitions

For the purposes of the present invention, an RAR antagonist is defined as a chemical that binds to one or more of the RAR subtypes with a K_(d) of less than 1 micromolar (K_(d)<1 μM) but which does not cause significant transcriptional activation of that RAR subtypes-regulated genes in a receptor co-transfection assay. Conventionally, antagonists are chemical agents that inhibit the activities of agonists. Thus, the activity of a receptor antagonist is conventionally measured by virtue of its ability to inhibit the activity of an agonist.

An RAR agonist is defined as a chemical that binds to one or more RAR receptor subtype with K_(d) of less than 1 micromol (K_(d)<1 μM) and causes transcriptional activation of that RAR-subtype-regulated genes in a receptor co-transfection assay. The term “RAR agonist” includes chemicals that may bind and/or activate other receptors in addition to RARs, e.g., RXR receptors.

As used herein, a negative hormone or inverse agonist is a ligand for a receptor which causes the receptor to adopt an inactive state relative to a basal state occurring in the absence of any ligand. Thus, while an antagonist can inhibit the activity of an agonist, a negative hormone is a ligand that can alter the conformation of the receptor in the absence of an agonist. The concept of a negative hormone or inverse agonist has been explored by Bond et al. in Nature 374:272 (1995). More specifically, Bond et al. have proposed that unliganded β₂-adrenoceptor exists in an equilibrium between an inactive conformation and a spontaneously active conformation. Agonists are proposed to stabilize the receptor in an active conformation. Conversely, inverse agonists are believed to stabilize an inactive receptor conformation. Thus, while an antagonist manifests its activity by virtue of inhibiting an agonist, a negative hormone can additionally manifest its activity in the absence of an agonist by inhibiting the spontaneous conversion of an unliganded receptor to an active conformation. Only a subset of antagonists will act as negative hormones. As disclosed herein, AGN 193109 is both an antagonist and a negative hormone. To date, no other retinoids have been shown to have negative hormone activity.

As used herein, coadministration of two pharmacologically active compounds refers to the delivery of two separate chemical entities, whether in vitro or in vivo. Coadministration refers to the simultaneous delivery of separate agents; to the simultaneous delivery of a mixture of agents; as well as to the delivery of one agent followed by delivery of the second agent. In all cases, agents that are coadministered are intended to work in conjunction with each other.

The term alkyl refers to and covers any and all groups which are known as normal alkyl, branched-chain alkyl and cycloalkyl. The term alkenyl refers to and covers normal alkenyl, branch chain alkenyl and cycloalkenyl groups having one or more sites of unsaturation. Similarly, the term alkynyl refers to and covers normal alkynyl, and branch chain alkynyl groups having one or more triple bonds.

Lower alkyl means the above-defined broad definition of alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbons in case of normal lower alkyl, and as applicable 3 to 6 carbons for lower branch chained and cycloalkyl groups. Lower alkenyl is defined similarly having 2 to 6 carbons for normal lower alkenyl groups, and 3 to 6 carbons for branch chained and cyclo-lower alkenyl groups. Lower alkynyl is also defined similarly, having 2 to 6 carbons for normal lower alkynyl groups, and 4 to 6 carbons for branch chained lower alkynyl groups.

The term “ester” as used here refers to and covers any compound falling within the definition of that term as classically used in organic chemistry. It includes organic and inorganic esters. Where B (of Formula 1 or Formula 101) is —COOH, this term covers the products derived from treatment of this function with alcohols or thiols preferably with aliphatic alcohols having 1-6 carbons. Where the ester is derived from compounds where B is —CH₂OH, this term covers compounds derived from organic acids capable of forming esters including phosphorous based and sulfur based acids, or compounds of the formula —CH₂OCOR₁₁ where R₁₁ is any substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic, aromatic, heteroaromatic or aliphatic aromatic group, preferably with 1-6 carbons in the aliphatic portions.

Unless stated otherwise in this application, preferred esters are derived from the saturated aliphatic alcohols or acids of ten or fewer carbon atoms or the cyclic or saturated aliphatic cyclic alcohols and acids of 5 to 10 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred aliphatic esters are those derived from lower alkyl acids and alcohols. Also preferred are the phenyl or lower alkyl phenyl esters.

Amides has the meaning classically accorded that term in organic chemistry. In this instance it includes the unsubstituted amides and all aliphatic and aromatic mono- and di-substituted amides. Unless stated otherwise in this application, preferred amides are the mono- and di-substituted amides derived from the saturated aliphatic radicals of ten or fewer carbon atoms or the cyclic or saturated aliphatic-cyclic radicals of 5 to 10 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred amides are those derived from substituted and unsubstituted lower alkyl amines. Also preferred are mono- and disubstituted amides derived from the substituted and unsubstituted phenyl or lower alkylphenyl amines. Unsubstituted amides are also preferred.

Acetals and ketals include the radicals of the formula-CK where K is (—OR)₂. Here, R is lower alkyl. Also, K may be —OR₇O— where R₇ is lower alkyl of 2-5 carbon atoms, straight chain or branched.

A pharmaceutically acceptable salt may be prepared for any compounds in this invention having a functionality capable of forming a salt, for example an acid functionality. A pharmaceutically acceptable salt is any salt which retains the activity of the parent compound and does not impart any deleterious or untoward effect on the subject to which it is administered and in the context in which it is administered.

Pharmaceutically acceptable salts may be derived from organic or inorganic bases. The salt may be a mono or polyvalent ion. Of particular interest are the inorganic ions, sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Organic salts may be made with amines, particularly ammonium salts such as mono-, di- and trialkyl amines or ethanol amines. Salts may also be formed with caffeine, tromethamine and similar molecules. Where there is a nitrogen sufficiently basic as to be capable of forming acid addition salts, such may be formed with any inorganic or organic acids or alkylating agent such as methyl iodide. Preferred salts are those formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid. Any of a number of simple organic acids such as mono-, di- or tri-acid may also be used.

Some of the compounds of the present invention may have trans and cis (E and Z) isomers. In addition, the compounds of the present invention may contain one or more chiral centers and therefore may exist in enantiomeric and diastereomeric forms. The scope of the present invention is intended to cover all such isomers per se, as well as mixtures of cis and trans isomers, mixtures of diastereomers and racemic mixtures of enantiomers (optical isomers) as well. In the present application when no specific mention is made of the configuration (cis, trans or R or S) of a compound (or of an asymmetric carbon) then a mixture of such isomers, or either one of the isomers is intended.

Aryl Substituted Benzopyran, Benzothiopyran, 1,2-Dihydroquinoline and 5,6-Dihydronaphthalene Derivatives Having Retinoid Antagonist Like Biological Activity

With reference to the symbol Y in Formula 1, the preferred compounds of the invention are those where Y is phenyl, pyridyl, thienyl or furyl. Even more preferred are compounds where Y is phenyl or pyridyl, and still more preferred where Y is phenyl. As far as substitutions on the Y (phenyl) and Y (pyridyl) groups are concerned, compounds are preferred where the phenyl group is 1,4 (para) substituted by the Z and A-B groups, and where the pyridine ring is 2,5 substituted by the Z and A-B groups. (Substitution in the 2,5 positions in the “pyridine” nomenclature corresponds to substitution in the 6-position in the “nicotinic acid” nomenclature.) In the preferred compounds of the invention either there is no optional R₂ substituent on the Y group, or the optional R₂ substituent is fluoro (F).

The A-B group of the preferred compounds is (CH₂)_(n)—COOH or (CH₂)_(n)—COOR₈, where n and R₈ are defined as above. Even more preferably n is zero and R₈ is lower alkyl, or n is zero and B is COOH or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In the majority of the presently preferred examples of compounds of the invention X is [C(R₁)₂]_(n) where n is 1. Nevertheless, compounds where n is zero (indene derivatives) and where X is S or O (benzothiopyran and benzopyran derivatives) are also preferred. When X is [C(R₁)₂]_(n) and n is 1, then R₁ preferably is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, even more preferably methyl.

The R₂ group attached to the aromatic portion of the tetrahydronaphthalene, benzopyran, benzothiopyran or dihydroquinoline moiety of the compounds of Formula 1 is preferably H, F or CF₃. R₃ is preferably hydrogen or methyl, even more preferably hydrogen.

Referring now to the group Z in the compounds of the invention and shown in Formula 1, in a plurality of preferred examples Z represents an acetylenic linkage (Z=—C≡C—). However, the “linker group” Z is also preferred as a diazo group (Z=—N═N—), as an olefinic or polyolefinic group (Z=—(CR₁═CR₁)_(n′)—), as an ester (Z=—COO—), amide (Z=—CO—NR₂—) or thioamide (Z=—CS—NR₂—) linkage.

Referring now to the R₁₄ group, compounds are preferred where R₁₄ is phenyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 2-thienyl, and 2-thiazolyl. The R₁₅ group (substituent of the R₁₄ group) is preferably H, lower alkyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorine, lower alkoxy or hydroxy.

The presently most preferred compounds of the invention are shown in Table 1 with reference to Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula 4, Formula 5, and Formula 5a.

TABLE 1 Compound # Formula R₁₄* Z R₂* R₈*  1 2 4-methylphenyl —C≡C— H Et  1a 2 phenyl —C≡C— H Et  2 2 3-methylphenyl —C≡C— H Et  3 2 2-methylphenyl —C≡C— H Et  4 2 3,5-dimethylphenyl —C≡C— H Et  5 2 4-ethylphenyl —C≡C— H Et  6 2 4-t-butylphenyl —C≡C— H Et  7 2 4-chlorophenyl —C≡C— H Et  8 2 4-methoxyphenyl —C≡C— H Et  9 2 4-trifluoromethylphenyl —C≡C— H Et 10 2 2-pyridyl —C≡C— H Et 11 2 3-pyridyl —C≡C— H Et 12 2 2-methyl-5-pyridyl —C≡C— H Et 13 2 3-hydroxyphenyl —C≡C— H Et 14 2 4-hydroxy phenyl —C≡C— H Et 15 2 5-methyl-2-thiazolyl —C≡C— H Et 15a 2 2-thiazolyl —C≡C— H Et 16 2 4-methyl-2-thiazolyl —C≡C— H Et 17 2 4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl —C≡C— H Et 18 2 2-methyl-5-pyridyl —C≡C— H H 19 2 2-pyridyl —C≡C— H H 20 2 3-methylphenyl —C≡C— H H 21 2 4-ethylphenyl —C≡C— H H 22 2 4-methoxyphenyl —C≡C— H H 23 2 4-trifluoromethylphenyl —C≡C— H H 24 2 3,5-dimethylphenyl —C≡C— H H 25 2 4-chlorophenyl —C≡C— H H 26 2 3-pyridyl —C≡C— H H 27 2 2-methylphenyl —C≡C— H H 28 2 3-hydroxyphenyl —C≡C— H H 29 2 4-hydroxyphenyl —C≡C— H H 30 2 5-methyl-2-thiazolyl —C≡C— H H 30a 2 2-thiazolyl —C≡C— H H 31 2 4-methyl-2-thiazolyl —C≡C— H H 32 2 4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl —C≡C— H H 33 2 5-methyl-2-thienyl —C≡C— H Et 33a 2 2-thienyl —C≡C— H Et 34 2 5-methyl-2-thienyl —C≡C— H H 34a 2 2-thienyl —C≡C— H H 35 2 4-methylphenyl —CONH— H Et 36 2 4-methylphenyl —CONH— H H 37 2 4-methylphenyl —COO— H Et 38 2 4-methylphenyl —COO— H (CH₂)₂Si(CH₃) 39 2 4-methylphenyl —COO— H H 40 2 4-methylphenyl —CONH— F Et 41 2 4-methylphenyl —CONH— F H 42 2 4-methylphenyl —CSNH— H Et 43 2 4-methylphenyl —CSNH— H H 44 2 4-methylphenyl —CH═CH— H Et 45 2 4-methylphenyl —CH═CH— H H 46a 2 4-methylphenyl —N═N— H Et 46b 2 4-methylphenyl —N═N— H H 47 3 4-methylphenyl —C≡C— H Et 48 3 4-methylphenyl —C≡C— H H 49 4 4-methylphenyl —C≡C— H Et 50 4 4-methylphenyl —C≡C— H H 51 5 4-methylphenyl — — Et 52 5 4-methylphenyl — — H 60 2 4-methylphenyl —C≡C— H H 60a 2 phenyl —C≡C— H H 61 2 4-t-butylphenyl —C≡C— H H 62 2 4-methylphenyl —CSNH F Et 63 2 4-methylphenyl —CSNH F H 64 5a 4-methylphenyl — — Et 65 5a 4-methylphenyl — — H 66 2 2-furyl —C≡C— H Et 67 2 2-furyl —C≡C— H H

Aryl and (3-Oxo-1-Propenyl)-Substituted Benzopyran, Benzothiopyran, Dihydroquinoline and 5,6-Dihydronaphthalene Derivatives Having Retinoid Antagonist-Like Biological Activity

With reference to the symbol Y in Formula 101, the preferred compounds of the invention are those where Y is phenyl, pyridyl, thienyl or furyl. Even more preferred are compounds where Y is phenyl or pyridyl, and still more preferred where Y is phenyl. As far as substitutions on the Y (phenyl) and Y (pyridyl) groups arc concerned, compounds are preferred where the phenyl group is 1,4 (para) substituted by the —CR₁₆═CR₁₇— and A-B groups, and where the pyridine ring is 2,5 substituted by the —CR₁₆═CR₁₇— and A-B groups. (Substitution in the 2,5 positions in the “pyridine” nomenclature corresponds to substitution in the 6-position in the “nicotinic acid” nomenclature.) In the preferred compounds of the invention there is no optional R₂ substituent on the Y group.

The A-B group of the preferred compounds is (CH₂)_(n)—COOH or (CH₂)_(n)—COOR₈, where n and R₈ are defined as above. Even more preferably n is zero and R₈ is lower alkyl, or n is zero and B is COOH or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

In the presently preferred examples of compounds of the invention X is [C(R₁)₂]_(n) where n is 1. Nevertheless, compounds where X is S or O (benzothiopyran and benzopyran derivatives) are also preferred. When X is [C(R₁)₂]_(n) and n is 1, then R₁ preferably is alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, even more preferably methyl.

The R₂ group attached to the aromatic portion of the tetrahydronaphthalene, benzopyran, benzothiopyran or dihydroquinoline moiety of the compounds of Formula 101 is preferably H, F or CF₃. R₃ is preferably hydrogen or methyl, even more preferably hydrogen.

Referring now to the R₁₄ group, compounds are preferred where R₁₄ is phenyl, 2-pyridyl, 3-pyridyl, 2-thienyl, and 2-thiazolyl. The R₁₅ group (substituent of the R₁₄ group) is preferably H, lower alkyl, trifluoromethyl, chlorine, lower alkoxy or hydroxy.

Preferred compounds of the invention are shown in Table 2 with reference to Formula 102.

TABLE 2 Compund R₁₅* R₈* 101 CH₃ H 102 CH₃ Et 103 H H 104 H Et Biological Activity, Modes of Administration

As noted above, the compounds of the present invention are antagonists of one or more RAR receptor subtypes. This means that the compounds of the invention bind to one or more RAR receptor subtypes, but do not trigger the response which is triggered by agonists of the same receptors. Some of the compounds of the present invention are antagonists of all three RAR receptor subtypes (RAR-α, RAR-β and RAR-γ), and these are termed “RAR pan antagonists”. Some others are antagonists of only one or two of RAR receptor subtypes. Some compounds within the scope of the present invention are partial agonists of one or two RAR receptor subtypes and antagonists of the remaining subtypes. The compounds of the invention do not bind to RXR receptors, therefore they are neither agonists nor antagonists of RXR.

Depending on the site and nature of undesirable side effects which are desired to be suppressed or ameliorated, compounds used in accordance with the invention may be antagonists of only one or two of RAR receptor subtypes. Some compounds used in accordance with the invention may be partial agonists of one or two RAR receptor subtypes and antagonists of the remaining subtypes. Such compounds are, generally speaking, usable in accordance with the invention if the antagonist effect is on that RAR receptor subtype (or subtypes) which is (are) predominantly responsible for the overdose poisoning or for the undesired side effect or side effects. In this connection it is noted that, generally speaking, a compound is considered an antagonist of a given receptor subtype if in the below described co-tranfection assays the compound does not cause significant transcriptional activation of the receptor regulated reporter gene, but nevertheless binds to the receptor with a K_(d) value of less than approximately 1 μM.

Whether a compound is an RAR antagonist and therefore can be utilized in accordance with the present invention, can be tested in the following assays.

A chimeric receptor transactivation assay which tests for agonist-like activity in the RARα, RAR-β, RAR-γ, RXRα receptor subtypes, and which is based on work published by Feigner P. L. and Holm M. Focus Vol 11, No. 2 (1989) is described in detail in published PCT Application No. WO94/17796, published on Aug. 18, 1994. The latter publication is the PCT counterpart of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/016,404, filed on Feb. 11, 1993, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,265. PCT publication WO94/17796 and the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,265 are hereby expressly incorporated by reference. A compound should not cause significant activation of a reporter gene through a given receptor subtype (RAR-α, RAR-β or RAR-γ) in this assay, in order to qualify as an RAR antagonist with utility in the present invention.

A holoreceptor transactivation assay and a ligand binding assay which measure the antagonist/agonist like activity of the compounds of the invention, or their ability to bind to the several retinoid receptor subtypes, respectively, are described in published PCT Application No. WO93/11755 (particularly on pages 30-33 and 37-41) published on Jun. 24, 1993, the specification of which is also incorporated herein by reference. A description of the holoreceptor transactivation assay is also provided below.

Holoreceptor Transactivation Assay

CV1 cells (5,000 cells/well) were transfected with an RAR reporter plasmid MTV-TREp-LUC (50 ng) along with one of the RAR expression vectors (10 ng) in an automated 96-well format by the calcium phosphate procedure of Heyman et al. Cell 68: 397-406. For RXR-α and RXR-γ transactivation assays, an RXR-responsive reporter plasmid CRBPII-tk-LUC (50 ng) along with the appropriate RXR expression vectors (10 ng) was used substantially as described by Heyman et al. above, and Allegretto et al. J. Biol. Chem. 268: 26625-26633. For RXR-β transactivation assays, an RXR-responsive reporter plasmid CPRE-tk-LUC (50 mg) along with RXR-β expression vector (10 mg) was used as described in above. These reporters contain DRI elements from human CRBPII and certain DRI elements from promotor, respectively (see Mangelsdorf et al. The Retinoids: Biology, Chemistry and Medicine, pp. 319-349, Raven Press Ltd., New York and Heyman et al., cited above). A β-galactosidase (50 ng) expression vector was used as an internal control in the transfections to normalize for variations in transfection efficiency. The cells were transacted in triplicate for 6 hours, followed by incubation with retinoids for 36 hours, and the extracts were assayed for luciferase and β-galactosidase activities. The detailed experimental procedure for holoreceptor transactivations has been described in Heyman et al. above, and Allegretto et al. cited above. The results obtained in this assay are expressed in EC₅₀ numbers, as they are also in the chimeric receptor transactivation assay. The Heyman et al. Cell 68: 397-406, Allegretto et al. J. Biol. Chem. 268: 26625-26633, and Mangelsdorf et al. The Retinoids: Biology, Chemistry and Medicine, pp. 319-349, Raven Press Ltd., New York, are expressly incorporated herein by reference. The results of ligand binding assay are expressed in K_(d) numbers. (See Cheng et al. Biochemical Pharmacology 22: 3099-3108, expressly incorporated herein by reference.)

A compound should not cause significant activation of a reporter gene through a given receptor subtype (RAR-α, RAR-β or RAR-γ) in the holoreceptor transactivation assay in order to qualify as an RAR antagonist with utility in the present invention. Last, but not least, a compound should bind to at least one of the RAR receptor subtypes in the ligand binding assay with a K_(d) of less than approximately 1 micromolar (K_(d)<1 μM) in order to be capable of functioning as an antagonist of the bound receptor subtype, provided the same receptor subtype is not significantly activated by the compound.

Table 3 below shows the results of the holoreceptor transactivation assay and Table 4 discloses the efficacy (in percentage) in this assay of the test compound relative to all trans retinoic acid, for certain exemplary compounds of the invention. Table 5 shows the results of the ligand binding assay for certain exemplary compounds of the invention.

TABLE 3 Holoreceptor Transactivation Assay EC₅₀ (nanomolar) Compound # RARα RARβ RARγ RXRα RXRβ RXRγ  18 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  19 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  20 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  21 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  22 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  23 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  24 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  25 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  26 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  27 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  28 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  29 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  30 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  31 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  32 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  34 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  36 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  39 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  41 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  45 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  46b 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  52 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  60 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  61 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  63 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 101 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 103 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.0 in Table 3 indicates that the compound is less than 20% as active (efficacious) in this assay than all trans retinoic acid.

TABLE 4 Transactivation Assay Efficacy (% of RA activity) Compound # RARα RARβ RARγ RXRα RXRβ RXRγ  18 4.00 1.00 0.00 2.00 10.00 1.0  19 0.00 5.0 3.0 0.0 9.0 4.0  20 3.0 4.0 0.00 4.00 0.00 3.0  21 2.00 2.00 2.00 3.00 0.00 3.00  22 0.00 0.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 2.00  23 0.00 6.00 3.00 1.00 0.00 4.00  24 3.00 7.00 4.00 1.00 0.00 3.00  25 2.00 3.00 3.00 5.00 0.00 3.00  26 1.00 6.00 0.00 2.00 0.00 3.00  27 9.00 14.00 6.00 2.00 0.00 4.00  28 2.00 10.00 2.00 2.00 0.00 3.00  29 0.00 6.00 11.00 0.00 6.00 2.00  30 3.00 5.00 1.00 0.00 9.00 3.00  31 4.00 14.00 2.00 1.00 8.00 6.00  32 0.00 2.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 2.00  34 3.00 5.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 3.00  36 1.00 5.00 0.00 1.00 7.00 2.00  39 1.00 7.00 9.00 2.00 0.00 1.00  41 3.00 5.00 6.00 1.00 0.00 3.00  45 2.00 0.00 7.00 3.00 8.00 0.00  46b 4.00 5.00 3.00 2.00 0.00 4.00  52 0.00 15.00 3.00 0.00 0.00 10.00  60 0.00 1.00 4.00 3.00 0.00 3.00  61 2.00 2.00 0.00 1.00 0.00 3.00  63 2.00 2.00 7.00 1.00 0.00 1.00 101 0.00 4.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 3.0 103 4.00 12.0 7.0 0.00 0.0 2.0

TABLE 5 Ligand Binding Assay K₄ (nanomolar) Compound # RARα RARβ RARγ RXRα RXRβ RXRγ  18 24.00 11.00 24.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  19 565 210 659 0.00 0.00 0.00  20 130.00 22.0 34.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  21 16 9 13 0.00 0.00 0.00  22 24.0 17.0 27.0 0.00 0.00 0.00  23 32.00 25.00 31.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  24 699 235 286 0.00 0.00 0.00  25 50 17 20 0.00 0.00 0.00  26 40.00 31.00 36.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  27 69.00 14.00 26.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  28 669 77 236 0.00 0.00 0.00  29 234 48 80 0.00 0.00 0.00  30 683 141 219 0.00 0.00 0.00  31 370 52.00 100.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  32 0.00 89.00 169.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  34 52.00 30.00 17.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  36 13.00 550.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  39 67.00 38.00 113.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  41 5.1 491 725 0.00 0.00 0.00  45 12.0 2.80 17.0 0.00 0.00 0.00  46b 250 3.70 5.80 0.00 0.00 0.00  52 60.00 63.00 56.00 0.00 0.00 0.00  60 1.5 1.9 3.3 0.00 0.00 0.00  61 96 15 16 0.00 0.00 0.00  63 133 3219 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 101 750 143 637 0.00 0.00 0.00 103 301 273 261 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.0 in Table 5 indicates a value greater than 1000 nM.

As it can be seen from the test results summarized in Tables 3, 4 and 5, the therein indicated exemplary compounds of the invention are antagonists of the RAR receptor subtypes, but have no affinity to RXR receptor subtypes. (Other compounds of the invention may be antagonist of some but not all RAR receptor subtypes and agonists of the remaining RAR subtypes.) Due to this property, the compounds of the invention can be used to block the activity of RAR agonists in biological assays. In mammals, including humans, the compounds of the invention can be coadministered with RAR agonists and, by means of pharmacological selectivity or site-specific delivery, preferentially prevent the undesired effects of RAR agonists. The compounds of the invention can also be used to treat Vitamin A overdose, acute or chronic, resulting either from the excessive intake of vitamin A supplements or from the ingestion of liver of certain fish and animals that contain high level of Vitamin A. Still further, the compounds of the invention can also be used to treat acute or chronic toxicity caused by retinoid drugs. It has been known in the art that the toxicities observed with hypervitaminosis A syndrome (headache, skin peeling, bone toxicity, dyslipidemias) are similar or identical with toxicities observed with other retinoids, suggesting a common biological cause, that is RAR activation. Because the compounds of the present invention block RAR activation, they are suitable for treating the foregoing toxicities.

The compounds of the invention are able to substantially prevent skin irritation induced by RAR agonist retinoids, when the compound of the invention is topically coadministered to the skin. Similarly, compounds of the invention can be administered topically to the skin, to block skin irritation, in patients or animals who are administered RAR agonist compounds systemically. The compounds of the invention can accelerate recovery from preexisting retinoid toxicity, can block hypertriglyceridemia caused by co-administered retinoids, and can block bone toxicity induced by an RAR agonist (retinoid).

Generally speaking, for therapeutic applications in mammals in accordance with the present invention, the antagonist compounds can be admistered enterally or topically as an antidote to vitamin A, vitamin A precursors, or antidote to retinoid toxicity resulting from overdose or prolonged exposure, after intake of the causative factor (vitamin A precursor or other retinoid) has been discontinued. Alternatively, the antagonist compounds are coadministered with retinoid drugs in accordance with the invention, in situations where the retinoid provides a therapeutic benefit, and where the coadministered antagonist alleviates or eliminates one or more undesired side effects of the retinoid. For this type of application the antagonist may be administered in a site-specific manner, for example as a topically applied cream or lotion while the coadministered retinoid may be given enterally.

For therapeutic applications in accordance with the present invention the antagonist compounds are incorporated into pharmaceutical compositions, such as tablets, pills, capsules, solutions, suspensions, creams ointments, gels, salves, lotions and the like, using such pharmaceutically acceptable excipients and vehicles which per se are well known in the art. For example preparation of topical formulations are well described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Science, Edition 17, Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa. For topical application, the antagonist compounds could also be administered as a powder or spray, particularly in aerosol form. If the drug is to be administered systemically, it may be confected as a powder, pill, tablet or the like or as a syrup or elixir suitable for oral administration. For intravenous or intraperitoneal administration, the antagonist compound will be prepared as a solution or suspension capable of being administered by injection. In certain cases, it may be useful to formulate the antagonist compounds by injection. In certain cases, it may be useful to formulate the antagonist compounds in suppository form or as extended release formulation for deposit under the skin or intramuscular injection.

The antagonist compounds will be administered in a therapeutically effective dose in accordance with the invention. A therapeutic concentration will be that concentration which effects reduction of the particular condition (such as toxicity due to retinoid or vitamin A exposure, or side effect of retinoid drug) or retards its expansion. It should be understood that when coadministering the antagonist compounds to block retinoid-induced toxicity or side effects in accordance with the invention, the antagonist compounds are used in a prophylactic manner to prevent onset of a particular condition, such as skin irritation.

A useful therapeutic or prophylactic concentration will vary from condition to condition and in certain instances may vary with the severity of the condition being treated and the patient's susceptibility to treatment. Accordingly, no single concentration will be uniformly useful, but will require modification depending on the particularities of the chronic or acute retinoid toxicity or related condition being treated. Such concentrations can be arrived at through routine experimentation. However, it is anticipated that a formulation containing between 0.01 and 1.0 milligrams of antagonist compound per mililiter of formulation will constitute a therapeutically effective concentration for topical application. If administered systemically, an amount between 0.01 and 5 mg per kg per day of body weight would be expected to effect a therapeutic result.

The basis of the utility of RAR antagonists for the prevention or treatment of RAR agonist-induced toxicity is competitive inhibition of the activation of RAR receptors by RAR agonists. The main distinction between these two applications of RAR antagonists is the presence or absence of preexisting retinoid toxicity. Most of the examples immediately described below relate to the use of retinoids to prevent retinoid toxicity, but the general methods described herein are applicable to the treatment of preexisting retinoid toxicity as well.

Description of Experiments Demonstrating the Use of RAR Antagonists to Prevent or Treat Retinoid Toxicity and/or Side Effects of Retinoid Drugs

EXAMPLE 1 Skin Iritation Induced by Topically Applied Agonist is Treated with Topically Applied Antagonist

The compound 4-[(E)-2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethylnaphthalen-2-yl)propen-1-yl]benzoic acid, designated AGN 191183, is known in the prior art as a potent RAR agonist (see for example the descriptive portion and FIG. 2b of U.S Pat. No. 5,324,840). (The “AGN” number is an arbitrarily designated reference number utilized by the corporate assignee of the present invention for identification of compounds.)

4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(phenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (AGN 192869, also designated Compound 60a) is a compound the preparation of which is described below. This compound is an RAR antagonist.

Skin irritation induced by an RAR agonist, AGN 191183, administered topically, can be blocked by an RAR antagonist, AGN 192869, also administered topically in hairless mice.

More particularly skin irritation was measured on a semiquantitative scale by the daily subjective evaluation of skin flaking and abrasions. A single number, the topical irritation score, summarizes the skin irritation induced in an animal during the course of an experiment. The topical irritation score is calculated as follows. The topical irritation score is the algebraic sum of a composite flaking score and a composite abrasion score. The composite scores range from 0-9 and 0-8 for flaking and abrasions, respectively, and take into account the maximum severity, the time of onset, and the average severity of the flaking and abrasions observed.

The severity of flaking is scored on a 5-point scale and the severity of abrasions is scored on a 4-point scale, with higher scores reflecting greater severity. The maximum severity component of the composite scores would be the highest daily severity score assigned to a given animal during the course of observation.

For the time of onset component of the composite score, a score ranging from 0 to 4 is assigned as follows:

TABLE 6 Time to Appearance of Flaking or Abrasions of Severity 2 or Greater (days) Time of Onset Score 8 0 6-7 1 5 2 3-4 3 1-2 4

The average severity component of the composite score is the sum of the daily flaking or abrasion scores divided by the number of observation days. The first day of treatment is not counted, since the drug compound has not had an opportunity to take effect at the time of first treatment.

To calculate the composite flaking and abrasion scores, the average severity and time of onset scores are summed and divided by 2. The result is added to the maximal severity score. The composite flaking and abrasion scores are then summed to give the overall topical irritation score. Each animal receives a topical irritation score, and the values are expressed as the mean±SD of the individual scores of a group of animals. Values are rounded to the nearest integer.

Female hairless mice [Crl:SKH1-hrBR] (8-12 weeks old, n=6) were treated topically for 5 consecutive days with acetone, AGN 191183, AGN 192869, or some combination of AGN 192869 and 191183. Doses of the respective compounds are given in Table 7. Treatments are applied to the dorsal skin in a total volume of 4 ml/kg (˜0.1 ml). Mice were observed daily and scored for flaking and abrasions up to and including 3 days after the last treatment, i.e., day 8.

TABLE 7 Experimental Design and Results, Example 1 Dose Dose Molar Ratio Topical AGN 191183 AGN 192869 (192869: Irritation Group (mg/kg/d) (mg/kg/d) (191183 Score) A 0 0 — 0 ± 0 B 0.025 0 — 8 ± 2 C 0.025 0.06  2:1 5 ± 2 D 0.025 0.30 10:1 2 ± 1 E 0.025 1.5 50:1 1 ± 0 F 0 1.5 — 0 ± 0

The topical irritation scores for Example 1 are given in Table 7. Neither acetone (vehicle) nor AGN 192869 (antagonist) at a dose of 1.5 mg/kg/d (group F) caused observable topical irritation. AGN 191183, the RAR agonist, caused modest topical irritation at a dose of 0.025 mg/kg/d. However, AGN 191183-induced topical irritation was inhibited in a dose-dependent fashion by AGN 192869, with nearly complete abrogation of irritation in the presence of a 50-fold molar excess of AGN 192869. This demonstrates that a topical RAR antagonist blocks skin irritation caused by a topical RAR agonist. Complete blockade of RAR agonist-induced skin irritation can be achieved with lower molar ratios of antagonist to agonist when the RAR antagonists is more potent, such as the compound 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (AGN 193109, also designated in this application as Compound 60.)

EXAMPLE 2 Skin Iritation Induced by Orally Applied Agonist is Blocked with Topically Applied Antagonist

The potent RAR agonist AGN 191183 (4-[(E)-2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5,8,8-tetramethylnaphthalen-2-yl)propen-1-yl]benzoic acid) and the potent RAR antagonist 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (AGN 193109, Compound 60) were used in this example and body weight of the experimental animals (mice) was used as a marker of systemic RAR agonist exposure.

Groups of female hairless mice (8-12 weeks old, n=6) were treated by intragastric intubation with corn oil or AGN 191183 (0.26 mg/kg) suspended in corn oil (5 ml/kg). Mice were simultaneously treated topically on the dorsal skin with vehicle (97.6% acetone/2.4% dimethylsulfoxide) or solutions of AGN 193109 in vehicle (6 ml/kg). Specific doses for the different treatment groups are given in Table 8. Treatments were administered daily for 4 consecutive days. Mice were weighed and graded for topical irritation daily as described in Example 1 up to and including 1 day after the last treatment. Percent body weight change is calculated by subtracting final body weight (day 5) from initial body weight (day 1), dividing by initial body weight, and multiplying by 100%. Topical irritation scores are calculated as described in Example 1.

Topical irritation scores and weight loss for the different groups are given in Table 8. Combined treatment with the topical and oral vehicles, i.e., acetone and corn oil, respectively, caused no topical irritation or weight loss. Similarly, combined treatment with the oral vehicle and the topical antagonist AGN 193109 resulted in no topical irritation or weight loss. Oral AGN 191183 by itself induced substantial weight loss and skin irritation. AGN 191183-induced skin irritation was substantially reduced when combined with the lower dose of AGN 193109 and completely blocked at the higher dose of AGN 193109. AGN 191183-induced weight loss was also blocked in a dose-related fashion by topical AGN 193109, but the blockade was not complete. Thus, topical AGN 193109 preferentially blocked the dermal toxicity of AGN 191183. Presumably, low levels of AGN 193109 were absorbed systemically and thus partially blocked the weight loss induced by AGN 191183. However, such absorption would likely be even less in a species with less permeable skin, such as humans. Alternatively, the weight loss inhibition by AGN 193109 could be due to amelioration of the AGN 191183 induced skin irritation.

TABLE 8 Experimental Design and Results, Example 2 Dose of Topical Dose of Oral % Weight Topical AGN 193109 AGN 191183 Gain or Irritation Group (mg/kg/d) (mg/kg/d) (Loss) Score) A 0 0 1 ± 2 0 ± 0 B 0 0.26 (21 ± 6)  8 ± 1 C 0.12 0.26 (9 ± 5) 1 ± 1 D 0.47 0.26 (3 ± 5) 0 ± 1 E 0.47 0 3 ± 3 0 ± 0

Thus, Example 2 demonstrates that RAR antagonists administered topically can be used to block preferentially the skin irritation induced by an RAR agonist administered orally.

EXAMPLE 3 Topically Applied Antagonist Accelarates Recovery from Prexisting Retinoid Toxicity

In this example, weight loss is induced by topical treatment with the RAR agonist AGN 191183 and then the test animals are topically treated with either vehicle or the RAR antagonist AGN 193109.

Female hairless mice (8-12 weeks old, n=5) were treated topically with AGN 191183 (0.13 mg/kg/d) in vehicle (97.6% acetone/2.4% DMSO, 4 ml/kg) daily for 2 days. Groups of these same mice (n=5) were then treated topically either with vehicle or AGN 193109 in vehicle (4 ml/kg) daily for 3 consecutive days beginning on day 3. Mice were weighed on days 1-5 and on day 8. Body weights are expressed as the mean±SD. Means were compared statistically using an unpaired, two-tailed t-test. Differences were considered significant at P<0.05.

TABLE 9 Results, Example 3 Treatment Body Weight (g) (days 3-5) DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 8 vehicle 24.6 ± 1.5 23.9 ± 1.2 21.4 ± 1.2 20.3 ± 1.7 21.0 ± 1.4 24.7 ± 1.0 AGN 193109 23.9 ± 1.0 23.5 ± 1.2 21.4 ± 0.6 22.2 ± 0.7 22.8 ± 0.8 25.0 ± 1.1

The time course of body weights in Example 3 are given in Table 9. Body weights of both groups of mice were lowered in parallel on days 2 and 3 as a result of AGN 191183 treatment on days 1 and 2. Body weights in the two groups were not significantly different on days 1, 2, or 3. However, AGN 193109 treatment significantly increased body weight relative to vehicle treatment on days 4 and 5. These data indicated that recovery from AGN 191183-induced body weight loss was accelerated by subsequent treatment with AGN 193109. Body weights were not significantly different between the two groups of mice on day 8, indicating that full recovery was achievable in both groups given sufficient time. Thus, RAR antagonists are effective in alleviating RAR agonist-induced toxicity even if RAR agonist-induced toxicity precedes RAR antagonist treatment, i.e., in the RAR agonist poisoning scenario.

EXAMPLE 4 Orally Applied Antagonist Blocks Hypertriglyceridemia Induced by Orally Coadministered Retinoid Agonist

5-[(E)-2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3,5,5,8,8-pentamethylnaphthalen-2-yl)propen-1-yl]-2-thiophencarboxylic acid, is a known RAR/RXR pan-agonist (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,840 column 32) and is designated AGN 191659. This compound was used orally to induce acute hypertriglyceridemia in rats, and AGN 193109 Compound 60 was coadministered orally to block the AGN 191659-induced hypertriglyceridemia.

Male Fischer rats (6-7 weeks old, n=5) were treated by intragastric intubation with corn oil (vehicle), AGN 191659, AGN 193109 or a combination of AGN 191659 and AGN 193109. AGN 191659 and AGN 193109 were given as fine suspensions in corn oil. The experimental design, including doses, is given in Table 10.

Blood was withdrawn from the inferior vena cava under carbon dioxide narcosis. Serum was separated from blood by low speed centrifugation. Total serum triglycerides (triglycerides plus glycerol) were measured with a standard spectrophotometric endpoint assay available commercially as a kit and adapted to a 96-well plate format. Serum triglyceride levels are expressed as the mean±SD. Means were compared statistically by one-way analysis of variance followed by Dunnett's test if significant differences were found. Differences were considered significant at P<0.05.

As shown in Table 10, AGN 191659 by itself caused significant elevation of serum triglycerides relative to vehicle treatment. AGN 193109 by itself did not significantly increase serum triglycerides. Importantly, the combination of AGN 193109 and AGN 191659 at molar ratios of 1:1 and 5:1 reduced serum triglycerides to levels that were not signficantly different from control.

TABLE 10 Experimental Design and Results, Example 4 Group Treatment (dose) Serum Triglycerides (mg/dl) A vehicle 55.0 ± 3.1 B AGN 193109 (19.6 mg/kg) 52.4 ± 6.3 C AGN 191659 (3.7 mg/kg) 122.5 ± 27.6 D AGN 193109 (3.9 mg/kg) +  55.7 ± 14.7 AGN 191659 (3.7 mg/kg) E AGN 193109 (19.6 mg/kg) + 72.7 ± 8.9 AGN 191659 (3.7 mg/kg)

Example 4 demonstrates that an RAR antagonist can be used to block hypertriglyceridemia induced by a coadministered retinoid.

EXAMPLE 5 Parenterally Applied Antagonist Blocks Bone Toxicity Induced by Parenterally Coadministered Retinoid Agonist

Example 5 demonstrates that RAR antagonists can block bone toxicity induced by an RAR agonist. In this example, AGN 193109 is used to block premature epiphyseal plate closure caused by a coadministered RAR agonist, AGN 191183, in guinea pigs.

Groups of male Hartley guinea pigs (˜3 weeks old, n=4) were implanted intraperitoneally with osmotic pumps containing vehicle (20% dimethylsulfoxide/80% polyethylene glycol-300), AGN 191183 (0.06 mg/ml), or AGN 191183 (0.06 mg/ml) in combination with AGN 193109 (0.34 mg/ml). The osmotic pumps are designed by the manufacturer to deliver ˜5 μl of solution per hour continuously for 14 days.

The animals were euthanized by carbon dioxide asphyxiation 14 days after implantation. The left tibia was removed and placed in 10% buffered formalin. The tibias were decalcified by exposure to a formic acid/formalin solution for 3-4 days, and paraffin sections were prepared. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin by standard methods. The proximal tibial epiphyseal plate was examined and scored as closed or not closed. Epiphyseal plate closure is defined for this purpose as any interruption of the continuity of the epiphyseal growth plate cartilage, i.e., replacement by bone and/or fibroblastic tissue.

None of the four vehicle-treated guinea pigs showed epiphyseal plate closure by the end of the experiment. This was expected, since the proximal epiphyseal plate of guinea pig tibia does not normally close until the animals are at least 10 months old. All four of the AGN 191183-treated guinea pigs showed partial or complete epiphyseal plate closure. However, none of the guinea pigs treated with the combination of AGN 191183 and AGN 193109 demonstrated epiphyseal plate closure. Thus, AGN 193109 at a 5-fold molar excess completely blocked AGN 191183-induced bone toxicity when these compounds were coadministered parenterally.

RAR Antagonist Compounds

The compounds 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (AGN 193109, Compound 60) and 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(phenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (AGN 192869, Compound 60a) are examples of RAR antagonists which were used in the above-described animal tests for blocking RAR receptors in accordance with the present invention. The compounds of the following formula (Formula 1) serve as further and general examples for additional RAR antagonist compounds for use in accordance with the present invention.

In Formula 1, X is S, O, NR′ where R′ is H or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, or

X is [C(R₁)₂]_(n) where R₁ is H or alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, and n is an integer between 0 or 1;

R₂ is hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, F, CF₃, fluor substituted alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons, OH, SH, alkoxy of 1 to 6 carbons, or alkylthio of 1 to 6 carbons;

R₃ is hydrogen, lower alkyl of 1 to 6 carbons or F;

m is an integer having the value of 0-3;

o is an integer having the value of 0-3;

Z is —C≡C—,

-   -   —N═N—,     -   —N═CR₁—,     -   —CR₁═N,     -   —(CR₁═CR₁)_(n′)— where n′ is an integer having the value 0-5,     -   —CO—NR₁—,     -   —CS—NR₁—,     -   —NR₁—CO,     -   —NR₁—CS,     -   —COO—,     -   —OCO—;     -   —CSO—;     -   —OCS—;

Y is a phenyl or naphthyl group, or heteroaryl selected from a group consisting of pyridyl, thienyl, furyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, imidazolyl and pyrrazolyl, said phenyl and heteroaryl groups being optionally substituted with one or two R₂ groups, or

when Z is —(CR₁═CR₁)_(n′)— and n′ is 3, 4 or 5 then Y represents a direct valence bond between said (CR₂═CR₂)_(n′) group and B;

A is (CH₂)_(q) where q is 0-5, lower branched chain alkyl having 3-6 carbons, cycloalkyl having 3-6 carbons, alkenyl having 2-6 carbons and 1 or 2 double bonds, alkynyl having 2-6 carbons and 1 or 2 triple bonds;

B is hydrogen, COOH or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, COOR₈, CONR₉R₁₀, —CH₂OH, CH₂OR₁₁, CH₂OCOR₁₁, CHO, CH(OR₁₂)₂, CHOR₁₃O, —COR₇, CR₇(OR₁₂)₂, CR₇OR₁₃O, or tri-lower alkylsilyl, where R₇ is an alkyl, cycloalkyl or alkenyl group containing 1 to 5 carbons, R₈ is an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbons or trimethylsilylalkyl where the alkyl group has 1 to 10 carbons, or a cycloalkyl group of 5 to 10 carbons, or R₈ is phenyl or lower alkylphenyl, R₉ and R₁₀ independently are hydrogen, an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbons, or a cycloalkyl group of 5-10 carbons, or phenyl or lower alkylphenyl, R₁₁ is lower alkyl, phenyl or lower alkylphenyl, R₁₂ is lower alkyl, and R₁₃ is divalent alkyl radical of 2-5 carbons, and

R₁₄ is (R₁₅)_(r)-phenyl, (R₁₅)_(r)-naphthyl, or (R₁₅)_(r)-heteroaryl where the heteroaryl group has 1 to 3 heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, S and N, r is an integer having the values of 0-5, and

R₁₅ is independently H, F, Cl, Br, I, NO₂, N(R₈)₂, N(R₈)COR₈, NR₈CON(R₈)₂, OH, OCOR₈, OR₈, CN, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbons, fluoro substituted alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbons, an alkenyl group having 1 to 10 carbons and 1 to 3 double bonds, alkynyl group having 1 to 10 carbons and 1 to 3 triple bonds, or a trialkylsilyl or trialkylsilyloxy group where the alkyl groups independently have 1 to 6 carbons.

Synthetic Methods—Aryl Substituted Compounds

The exemplary RAR antagonist compounds of Formula 1 can be made by the synthetic chemical pathways illustrated here. The synthetic chemist will readily appreciate that the conditions set out here are specific embodiments which can be generalized to any and all of the compounds represented by Formula 1.

Reaction Scheme 1 illustrates the synthesis of compounds of Formula 1 where the Z group is an ethynyl function (—C≡C—) and X is [C(R₁)₂]_(n) where n is 1. In other words, Reaction Scheme 1 illustrates the synthesis of ethynyl substituted dihydronaphthalene derivatives of the present invention. In accordance with this scheme, a tetrahydronaphtalene-1-one compound of Formula 6 is brominated to provide the bromo derivative of Formula 7. The compounds of Formula 6 already carry the desired R₁, R₂ and R₃ substituents, as these are defined above in connection with Formula 1. A preferred example of a compound of Formula 6 is 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone, which is described in the chemical literature (Arnold et al. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 69: 2322-2325 (1947)). A presently preferred route for the synthesis of this compound from 1-bromo-3-phenylpropane is also described in the experimental section of the present application.

The compounds of Formula 7 are then reacted with (trimethylsilyl)acetylene to provide the (trimethylsilyl)ethynyl-substituted 3,4-dihydro-naphthalen-1(2H)-one compounds of Formula 8. The reaction with (trimethylsilyl)acetylene is typically conducted under heat (approximately 100° C.) in the presence of cuprous iodide, a suitable catalyst, typically having the formula Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂, an acid acceptor (such as triethylamine) under an inert gas (argon) atmosphere. Typical reaction time is approximately 24 hours. The (trimethylsilyl)ethynyl-substituted 3,4-dihydro-naphthalen-1(2H)-one compounds of Formula 8 are then reacted with base (potassium hydroxide or potassium carbonate) in an alcoholic solvent, such as methanol, to provide the ethynyl substituted 3,4-dihydro-1-naphthalen-1(2H)ones of Formula 9. Compounds of Formula 9 are then coupled with the aromatic or heteroaromatic reagent X₁-Y(R₂)-A-B′ formula 10) in the presence of cuprous iodide, a suitable catalyst, typically Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂, an acid acceptor, such as triethylamine, under inert gas (argon) atmosphere. Alternatively, a zinc salt (or other suitable metal salt) of the compounds of Formula 9 can be coupled with the reagents of Formula 10 in the presence of Pd(PPh₃)₄, or similar complex. Typically, the coupling reaction with the reagent X₁-Y(R₂)-A-B′ (Formula 10) is conducted at room or moderately elevated temperature. Generally speaking, coupling between an ethynylaryl derivative or its zinc salt and a halogen substituted aryl or heteroaryl compound, such as the reagent of Formula 10, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,456, the specification of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. The compounds of Formula 11 are precursors to exemplary compounds of the present invention, or derivatives thereof protected in the B′ group, from which the protecting group can be readily removed by reactions well known in the art. The compounds of Formula 11 can also be converted into further precursors to the exemplary compounds by such reactions and transformations which are well known in the art. Such reactions are indicated in Reaction Scheme 1 by conversion into “homologs and derivatives”. One such conversion employed for the synthesis of several exemplary compounds is saponification of an ester group (when B or B′ is an ester) to provide the free carboxylic acid or its salt.

The halogen substituted aryl or heteroaryl compounds of Formula 10 can, generally speaking, be obtained by reactions well known in the art An example of such compound is ethyl 4-iodobenzoate which is obtainable, for example, by esterification of 4-iodobenzoic acid. Another example is ethyl 6-iodonicotinoate which can be obtained by conducting a halogen exchange reaction on 6-chloronicotinic acid, followed by esterification. Even more generally speaking, regarding derivatization of compounds of Formula 11 and/or the synthesis of aryl and heteroaryl compounds of Formula 10 which can thereafter be reacted with compounds of Formula 9, the following well known and published general principles and synthetic methodology can be employed.

Carboxylic acids are typically esterified by refluxing the acid in a solution of the appropriate alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst such as hydrogen chloride or thionyl chloride. Alternatively, the carboxylic acid can be condensed with the appropriate alcohol in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and dimethylaminopyridine. The ester is recovered and purified by conventional means. Acetals and ketals are readily made by the method described in March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill Book Company, p. 810). Alcohols, aldehydes and ketones all may be protected by forming respectively, ethers and esters, acetals or ketals by known methods such as those described in McOmie, Plenum Publishing Press, 1973 and Protecting Groups, Ed. Greene, John Wiley & Sons, 1981.

To increase the value of n in the compounds of Formula 10 before affecting the coupling reaction of Reaction Scheme 1 (where such compounds corresponding to Formula 10 are not available from a commercial source) aromatic or heteroaromatic carboxylic acids are subjected to homologation by successive treatment under Arndt-Eistert conditions or other homologation procedures. Alternatively, derivatives which are not carboxylic acids may also be homologated by appropriate procedures. The homologated acids can then be esterified by the general procedure outlined in the preceding paragraph.

Compounds of Formula 10, (or other intermediates or exemplary compounds) where A is an alkenyl group having one or more double bonds can be made for example, by synthetic schemes well known to the practicing organic chemist; for example by Wittig and like reactions, or by introduction of a double bond by elimination of halogen from an alpha-halo-arylalkyl-carboxylic acid, ester or like carboxaldehyde. Compounds of Formula 10 (or other intermediates or exemplary compounds) where the A group has a triple (acetylenic) bond can be made by reaction of a corresponding aromatic methyl ketone with strong base, such as lithium diisopropylamide, reaction with diethyl chlorophosphate and subsequent addition of lithium diisopropylamide.

The acids and salts derived from compounds of Formula 11 (or other intermediates or exemplary compounds) are readily obtainable from the corresponding esters. Basic saponification with an alkali metal base will provide the acid. For example, an ester of Formula 11 (or other intermediates or exemplary compounds) may be dissolved in a polar solvent such as an alkanol, preferably under an inert atmosphere at room temperature, with about a three molar excess of base, for example, lithium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. The solution is stirred for an extended period of time, between 15 and 20 hours, cooled, acidified and the hydrolysate recovered by conventional means.

The amide may be formed by any appropriate amidation means known in the art from the corresponding esters or carboxylic acids. One way to prepare such compounds is to convert an acid to an acid chloride and then treat that compound with ammonium hydroxide or an appropriate amine.

Alcohols are made by converting the corresponding acids to the acid chloride with thionyl chloride or other means (J. March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill Book Company), then reducing the acid chloride with sodium borohydride (March, Ibid, p. 1124), which gives the corresponding alcohols. Alternatively, esters may be reduced with lithium aluminum hydride at reduced temperatures. Alkylating these alcohols with appropriate alky halides under Williamson reaction conditions (March, Ibid, p. 357) gives the corresponding ethers. These alcohols can be converted to esters by reacting them with appropriate acids in the presence of acid catalysts or dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and dimethylaminopyridine.

Aldehydes can be prepared from the corresponding primary alcohols using mild oxidizing agents such as pyridinium dichromate in methylene chloride (Corey, E. J., Schmidt, G., Tet. Lett. 399, 1979), or dimethyl sulfoxide/oxalyl chloride in methylene chloride (Omura, K., Swern, D., Tetrahedron 34: 1651 (1978)).

Ketones can be prepared from an appropriate aIdehyde by treating the aldehyde with an alkyl Grignard reagent or similar reagent followed by oxidation.

Acetals or ketals can be prepared from the corresponding aldehyde or ketone by the method described in March, Ibid, p. 810.

Compounds of Formula 10 (or other intermediates, or exemplary compounds) where B is H can be prepared from the corresponding halogenated aromatic or hetero aromatic compounds, preferably where the halogen is 1.

Referring back again to Reaction Scheme 1, the compounds of Formula 11 are reacted with sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide and 2-[N,N-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amino]-5-chloropyridine in an inert ether type solvent, such as tetrahydrofuran, at low temperatures (−78° C. and 0° C.). This is shown in Reaction Scheme 1 where the usually unisolated sodium salt intermediate is shown in brackets as Formula 12. The reaction results in the trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy derivatives represented in Formula 13. (Tf=SO₂CF₃). The compounds of Formula 13 are then converted to the exemplary compounds of the invention, shown in Formula 14, by reaction with an organometal derivative derived from the aryl or heteroaryl compound R₁₄H, such that the formula of the organometal derivative is R₁₄Met (Met stands for monovalent metal), preferably R₁₄Li. (R₁₄ is defined as in connection with Formula 1.) The reaction with the organometal derivative, preferably lithium derivative of the formula R₁₄Li is usually conducted in an inert ether type solvent (such as tetrahydrofuran) in the presence of zinc chloride (ZnCl₂) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium(0) (Pd(PPh₃)₄). The organolithium reagent R₁₄Li, if not commercially available, can be prepared from the compound R₁₄H (or its halogen derivative R₁₄-X₁ where X₁ is halogen) in an ether type solvent in accordance with known practice in the art. The temperature range for the reaction between the reagent R₁₄Li and the compounds of Formula 13 is, generally speaking in the range of approximately −78° C. to 50° C. The compounds of Formula 14 can be converted into further homologs and derivatives in accordance with the reactions discussed above.

The intermediate 7-bromo-tetrahydronaphthalene-1-one compounds of Formula 7 shown in Reaction Scheme 1 can also be converted with a Grignard reagent of the formula R₁₄MgBr (R₁₄ is defined as in connection with Formula 1) to yield the tertiary alcohol of Formula 15. The tertiary alcohol is dehydrated by treatment with acid to provide the 3,4-dihydro-7-bromonaphthalene derivatives of Formula 16, which serve as intermediates for the synthesis of additional compounds of the present invention (see Reaction Schemes 6, 7, and 8).

Referring now to Reaction Scheme 2 a synthetic route to those compounds is disclosed where with reference to Formula 1 X is S, O or NR′ and the Z group is an ethynyl function (—C≡C—). Starting material for this sequence of the reaction is a bromophenol, bromothiophenol or bromoaniline of the structure shown in Formula 17. For the sake of simplifying the present specification, in the ensuing description X can be considered primarily sulfur as for the preparation of benzothiopyran derivatives. It should be kept in mind, however, that the herein described scheme is also suitable, with such modifications which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, for the preparation of benzopyran (X=O) and dihydroquinoline (X=NR′) compounds of the present invention. Thus, the compound of Formula 17, preferably para bromothiophenol, para bromophenol or para bromoaniline is reacted under basic condition with a 3-bromo carboxylic acid of the Formula 18. In this reaction scheme the symbols have the meaning described in connection with Formula 1. An example for the reagent of Formula 18 where R₃ is hydrogen, is 3-bromopropionic acid. The reaction with the 3-bromocarboxylic acid of Formula 18 results in the compound of Formula 19. The latter is cyclized by treatment with acid to yield the 6-bromothiochroman-4-one derivative (when X is S) or 6-bromochroman derivative (when X is 0) of Formula 20. The bromo compounds of Formula 20 are then subjected to substantially the same sequence of reactions under analogous conditions, which are described in Reaction Scheme 1 for the conversion of the bromo compounds of Formula 7 to the compounds of the invention. Thus, briefly summarized here, the bromo compounds of Formula 20 are reacted with (trimethylsilyl)acetylene to provide the 6-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl-substituted thiochroman-4-one or chroman-4-one compounds of Formula 21. The 6-(trimethylsilyl)acethynyl-substituted thiochroman-4-one compounds of Formula 21 are then reacted with base (potassium hydroxide or potassium carbonate) to provide the ethynyl substituted 6-ethynyl substituted thiochroman-4-ones of Formula 22. Compounds of Formula 22 are then coupled with the aromatic or heteroaromatic reagent X₁—Y(R₂)-A-B′ (Formula 10) under conditions analogous to those described for the analogous reactions of Reaction Scheme 1, to yield the compounds of Formula 23.

The compounds of Formula 23 are then reacted still under conditions analogous to the similar reactions described in Reaction Scheme 1 with sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide and 2-[N,N-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amino]-5-chloropyridine to yield the 4-trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy benzothiopyran or benzopyran derivatives represented in Formula 24. The compounds of Formula 24 are then converted to compounds shown in Formula 25, by reaction with an organometal derivative derived from the aryl or heteroaryl compound R₁₄H, as described in connection with Reaction Scheme 1.

Similarly to the use of the intermediate 7-bromo-tetrahydronaphthalene-1-one compounds of Formula 7 of Reaction Scheme 1, the intermediate 6-bromothiochroman-4-one compounds of Formula 20 can also be used for the preparation of further compounds within the scope of the present invention, as described below, in Reaction Schemes 6, 7 and 8. The compounds of Formula 25, can also be converted into further homologs and derivatives, in reactions analogous to those described in connection with Reaction Scheme 1.

Reaction Scheme 3 discloses a synthetic route to compounds where, with reference to Formula 1, X is [C(R₁)₂]_(n), n is 0 and the Z group is an ethynyl function (—C≡C—). In accordance with this scheme, a 6-bromo-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-1-one derivative of Formula 26 is reacted in a sequence of reactions (starting with reaction with trimethylsilylacetylene) which are analogous to the reactions described above in connection with Reaction Schemes 1 and 2, to provide, through intermediates of the formulas 27-30, the indene derivatives of Formula 31. In a preferred embodiment within the scope of Reaction Scheme 3, the starting material is 6-bromo-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-1H-inden-1-one that is available in accordance with the chemical literature (See Smith et al. Org. Prep. Proced. Int. 1978 10, 123-131). Compounds of Formula 26, such as 6-bromo-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-1H-inden-1-one, can also be used for the synthesis of still further exemplary compounds for use in the present invention, as described below.

Referring now to Reaction Scheme 4 a synthetic route to exemplary compounds is disclosed where, with reference to Formula 1, Z is —(CR₁═CR₁)_(n′)—, n′ is 3, 4 or 5 and Y represents a direct valence bond between the (CR₁═CR₁)_(n′) group and B. This synthetic route is described for examples where the X group is [C(R₁)₂]_(n) and n is 1 (dihydronaphthalene derivatives). Nevertheless, it should be understood that the reactions and synthetic methodology described in Reaction Scheme 4 and further ensuing schemes, is also applicable, with such modifications which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, to derivatives where X is is S, O, NR′ (benzothiopyran, benzopyran or dihydroquinoline derivatives) or [C(R₁)₂]_(n) and n is 0 (indene derivatives).

In accordance with Reaction Scheme 4, a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene derivative of Formula 32 is reacted with an acid chloride (R₁COCl) under Friedel Crafts conditions, and the resulting acetylated product is oxidized, for example in a Jones oxidation reaction, to yield a mixture of isomeric 6-. and 7-acetyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone derivatives of Formula 33. In a specific preferred example of this reaction, the starting compound of Formula 32 is 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,1-dimethylnaphthalene (a known compound) which can be prepared in accordance with a process described in the experimental section of the present application. The 7-acetyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone derivative of Formula 33 is reacted with ethylene glycol in the presence of acid to protect the oxo function of the exocyclic ketone moiety, as a ketal derivative of Formula 34. The ketal of Formula 34 is thereafter reacted with a Grignard reagent of the formula R₁₄MgBr (the symbols are defined as in connection with Formula 1), to yield the tertiary alcohol of Formula 35. Thereafter the dioxolane protective group is removed and the tertiary alcohol is dehydrated by treatment with acid to provide the 3,4-dihydro-7-acetylnaphthalene derivatives of Formula 36. The ketone function of the compounds of Formula 36 is subjected to a Horner Emmons (or analogous) reaction under strongly alkaline conditions with a phosphanate reagent of Formula 37, to yield, after reduction, the aldehyde compounds of Formula 38. Still another Horner Emmons (or analogous) reaction under strongly alkaline conditions with a reagent of Formula 39 provides compounds of Formula 40. The latter can be converted into further homologs and derivatives in accordance with the reactions described above. A specific example of the Horner Emmons reagent of Formula 37 which is used for the preparation of a preferred compound is diethylcyanomethylphosphonate; an example of the Horner Emmons reagent of Formula 39 is diethyl-(E)-3-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methylallylphosphonate.

Reaction Scheme 5 discloses a synthetic process for preparing compounds where the Z group is an azo group (—N═N—). As in Reaction Scheme 4 this process is described for examples where the X group is [C(R₁)₂]_(n) and n is 1 (dihydronaphthalene derivatives). Nevertheless, it should be understood that the synthetic methodology described is also applicable, with such modifications which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, to all azo compounds for use in the invention, namely to derivatives where X is is S, O. NR′ (benzothiopyran, benzopyran or dihydroquinoline derivatives) or [C(R₁)₂]_(n) and n is 0 (indene derivatives). Thus, a nitro group is introduced into the starting compound of Formula 6 under substantially standard conditions of nitration, to yield the 3,4-dihydro-7-nitro-1(2H)-naphthalenone derivative of Formula 41. The latter compound is reduced to the 3,4-dihydro-7-amino-1(2H)-naphthalenone derivative of Formula 42 and is thereafter reacted with a nitroso compound of the formula ON—Y(R₂)-A-B (Formula 43) under conditions normally employed glacial acetic acid) for preparing azo compounds. The nitroso compound of Formula 43 can be obtained in accordance with reactions known in the art. A specific example for such compound, which is used for the synthesis of a preferred compound is ethyl 4-nitrosobenzoate. The azo compound of Formula 44 is thereafter reacted with sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide and 2-[N,N-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amino]-5-chloropyridine to yield the 4-trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy derivatives represented in Formula 45. The compounds of Formula 45 are then converted to the azo compounds shown in Formula 46, by reaction with an organometalic derivative derived from the aryl or heteroaryl compound R₁₄H. These latter two reactions, namely the conversion to the 4-trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy derivatives and subsequent reaction with the organometal derivative, have been described above in connection with Reaction Schemes 1, 2 and 3, and are employed in several presently preferred synthetic processes leading to exemplary RAR antagonist compounds.

Reaction Scheme 6 discloses a presently preferred synthetic process for the preparation of compounds where, with reference to Formula 1, the Z group is COO— or CONR₁ (R₁ is preferably H). These ester and amide derivatives are prepared from the 3,4-dihydro-7-bromonaphthalene derivatives of Formula 16, which can be obtained as described in Reaction Scheme 1. Thus, the compounds of Formula 16 are reacted with strong base, such as t-butyllithium, in an inert ether type solvent, such as tetrahydrofuran, at cold temperature, and carbon dioxide (CO₂) is added to provide the 5,6-dihydro-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid derivatives of Formula 47. Compounds of Formula 47 are then reacted with compounds of the formula X₂—Y(R₂)-A-B (Formula 48) where X₂ represent an OH or an NR₁ group, the R₁ preferably being hydrogen. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the compounds of Formula 48 are aryl or heteroaryl hydroxy or amino derivatives which can be obtained in accordance with the state-of-the-art. The reaction between the compounds of Formula 47 and Formula 48 can be conducted under various known ester or amide forming conditions, such as coupling of the two in the presence of 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride and 4-dimethylaminopyridine. Alternatively, the compounds of Formula 47 can be converted into the corresponding acid chloride for coupling with the compounds of Formula 48 in the presence of base. The amide or ester compounds of Formula 49 can be converted into further homologs and derivatives, as described above. Although Reaction Scheme 6 is described and shown for the example where the X group of Formula 1 is [C(R₁)₂]_(n) and n is 1 (dihydronaphthalene derivatives), the herein described process can be adapted for the preparation of benzopyran, benzothiopyran, dihydroquinoline and indene derivatives as well.

Compounds of the present invention where with reference to Formula 1, Z is —OCO—, NR₁CO, as well as the corresponding thioester and thioamide analogs, can be prepared from the intermediates derived from the compounds of Formula 16 where the bromo function is replaced with an amino or hydroxyl group and in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,324,744, the specification of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

Reaction Scheme 7 discloses a presently preferred synthetic process for the preparation of compounds where with reference to Formula 1, Z is —(CR₁═CR₁)_(n′)— and n′ is 0. These compounds of Formula 50 can be obtained in a coupling reaction between compounds of Formula 16 and a Grignard reagent derived from the halo compounds of Formula 10. The coupling reaction is typically conducted in the presence of a zinc salt and a nickel (Ni(0)) catalyst in inert ether type solvent, such as tetrahydrofuran. The compounds of Formula 50 can be converted into further homologs and derivatives, as described above.

Referring now to Reaction Scheme 8 a presently preferred synthetic process is disclosed for the preparation of compounds where Z is —(CR₁═CR₁)_(n′)— and n′ is 1. More particularly, Reaction Scheme 8 discloses the presently preferred process for preparing those compounds which are dihydronaphtalene derivatives and where the Z group represents a vinyl (—CH═CH—) function. However, the generic methodology disclosed herein can be extended, with such modifications which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, to the analogous benzopyran, benzothiopyran, dihydroquinoline compounds, and to compounds where the vinyl group is substituted. Thus, in accordance with Reaction Scheme 8 the 7-bromo-1(2H)-naphthalenone derivative of Formula 7 is reacted with a vinyl derivative of the structure —CH₂═CH—Y(R₂)-A-B (Formula 51) in the presence of a suitable catalyst, typically having the formula Pd(PPh₃), an acid acceptor (such as, triethylamine) under an inert gas (argon) atmosphere. The conditions of this reaction are analogous to the coupling of the acetylene derivatives of Formula 9 with the reagent of Formula 10 (see for example Reaction Scheme 1), and this type of reaction is generally known in the art as a Heck reaction. The vinyl derivative of Formula 51 can be obtained in accordance with the state of the art, an example for such a reagent used for the synthesis of a preferred compound to be used in the invention is ethyl 4-vinylbenzoate.

The product of the Heck coupling reaction is an ethenyl derivative of Formula 52, which is thereafter converted into compounds used in the present invention by treatment with sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide and 2-[N,N-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amino]-5-chloropyridine to yield the 4-trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy derivatives of Formula 53, and subsequent reaction with an organometal derivative derived from the aryl or heteroaryl compound R₁₄H, as described above. The resulting compounds of Formula 54 can be converted into further homologs and derivatives.

The compounds of Formula 54 can also be obtained through synthetic schemes which employ a Wittig or Horner Emmons reaction. For example, the intermediate of Formula 33 (see Reaction Scheme 4) can be reacted wit a triphenylphosphonium bromide (Wittig) reagent or more preferably with a diethylphosphonate (Horner Emmons) reagent of the structure (EtO))₂PO—CH₂—Y(R₂)-A-B, as described for analogous Horner Emmons reactions in U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,840, the specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. The just mentioned Horner Emmons reaction provides intermediate compounds analogous in structure to Formula 52, and be converted into compounds of Formula 54 by the sequence of reactions described in Reaction Scheme 8 for the compounds of Formula 52.

Synthetic Methods—Aryl and (3-Oxy-1-Propenyl)-Substituted Compounds

The exemplary RAR antagonist compounds of Formula 101 can be made by the synthetic chemical pathways illustrated here. The synthetic chemist will readily appreciate that the conditions set out here are specific embodiments which can be generalized to any and all of the compounds represented by Formula 101.

Reaction Scheme 101 illustrates the synthesis of compounds of Formula 101 where X is [C(R₁)₂]_(n), n is 1, p is zero and R₁₇ is H or lower alkyl. In other words, Reaction Scheme 101 illustrates the synthesis of compounds of the invention which are 3,4-dihydronaphthalene derivatives. In accordance with this scheme, a tetrahydronaphthalene compound of Formula 103 which is appropriately substituted with the R₃ and R₂ groups (as these are defined in connection with Formula 101) serves as the starting material. A preferred example of a compound of Formula 103 is 1,3,3,4-tetrahydro-1,1-dimethyl-naphthalene, which is described in the chemical literature (Mathur et al. Tetrahedron, 1985, 41:1509. A presently preferred route for the synthesis of this compound from 1-bromo-3-phenylpropane is also described in the experimental section of the present application.

The compound of Formula 103 is reacted in a Friedel Crafts type reaction with an acid chloride having the structure R₁₆CH₂COCl (R₁₆ is defined as in connection with Formula 101) and is thereafter oxidized with chromium trioxide in acetic acid to provide the isomeric 6 and 7 acyl-3,4-dihydro-1(2H)-naphthalenone derivatives. Only the 6-acyl derivative which is of interest from the standpoint of the present invention, is shown by structural formula (Formula 104) in Reaction Scheme 101. In the preparation of the presently preferred compounds of this invention the R₁ groups represent methyl, R₂, R₃ and R₁₆ are H, and therefore the preferred intermediate corresponding to Formula 104 is 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-6-acetyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone.

The exocyclic ketone function of the compound of Formula 104 is thereafter protected as a ketal, for example by treatment with ethylene glycol in acid, to provide the 1,3-dioxolanyl derivative of Formula 105. The compound of Formula 105 is then reacted with a Grignard reagent of the formula R₁₄MgBr (R₁₄ is defined as in connection with Formula 101) to give the 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-hydroxy-naphthalene derivative of Formula 106. The exocyclic ketone function of the compound of Formula 106 is then deprotected by treatment with acid and dehydrated to give the compound of Formula 107.

An alternate method for obtaining the compounds of Formula 107 from the compounds of Formula 105 is by reacting the compounds of Formula 105 with sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide and 2-[N,N-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amino]-5-chloropyridine (Tf=SO₂CF₃) in an inert ether type solvent, such as tetrahydrofuran, at low temperatures (−78° C. and 0° C.). This reaction proceeds through a sodium salt intermediate which is usually not isolated and is not shown in Reaction Scheme 101. The overall reaction results in a trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy derivative, which is thereafter reacted with an organometal derivative derived from the aryl or heteroaryl compound R₁₄H, such that the formula of the organometal derivative is R₁₄Met (Met stands for monovalent metal), preferably R₁₄Li, (R₁₄ is defined as in connection with Formula 101.) The reaction with the organometal derivative, preferably lithium derivative of the formula R₁₄Li is usually conducted in an inert ether type solvent (such as tetrahydrofuran) in the presence of zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium(0) (Pd(PPh₃)₄. The organolithium reagent R₁₄Li, if not commercially available, can be prepared from the compound R₁₄H (or its halogen derivative R₁₄—X₁ where X₁ is halogen) in an ether type solvent in accordance with known practice in the art. The temperature range for the reaction between the reagent R₁₄Li and the trifluoromethylsulfonyloxy derivative is, generally speaking, in the range of approximately −78° C. to 50° C.

The compounds of the invention are formed as a result of a condensation between the ketone compound of Formula 107 and an aldehyde or ketone of Formula 108. In the preparation of the preferred exemplary compounds of the invention the reagent of Formula 108 is 4-carboxybenzaldehyde (R₁₇—H). Examples of other reagents within the scope of Formula 108 and suitable for the condensation reaction and for the synthesis of compounds within the scope of the present invention (Formula 101) are: 5-carboxy-pyridine-2-aldehyde, 4-carboxy-pyridine-2-aldehyde, 4-carboxy-thiophene-2-aldehyde, 5-carboxy-thiophene-2-aldehyde, 4-carboxy-furan-2-aldehyde, 5-carboxy-furan-2-aldehyde, 4-carboxyacetophenone, 2-acetyl-pyridine-5-carboxylic acid, 2-acetyl-pyridine-4-carboxylic acid, 2-acetyl-thiophene-4-carboxylic acid, 2-acetyl-thiophene-5-carboxylic acid, 2-acetyl-furan-4-carboxylic acid, and 2-acetyl-furan-5-carboxylic acid. The latter compounds are available in accordance with the chemical literature; see for example Decroix et al. J. Chem. Res. (S), 4: 134 (1978); Dawson et al., J. Med. Chem. 29:1282 (1983); and Queguiner et al., Bull Soc. Chimique de France No. 10, pp. 3678-3683 (1969). The condensation reaction between the compounds of Formula 107 and Formula 108 is conducted in the presence of base in an alcoholic solvent. Preferably, the reaction is conducted in ethanol in the presence of sodium hydroxide. Those skilled in the art will recognize this condensation reaction as an aldol condensation, and in case of the herein described preferred examples (condensing a ketone of Formula 107 with an aldehyde of Formula 108) as a Claisen-Schmidt reaction. (See March: Advanced Organic Chemistry: Reactions, Mechanisms, and Structure, pp. 694-695 McGraw Hill (1968). The compounds of Formula 109 are within the scope of the present invention, and can also be subjected to further transformations resulting in additional compounds of the invention. Alternatively, the A-B group of Formula 108 may be a group which is within the scope of the invention, as defined in Formula 101, only after one or more synthetic transformations of such a nature which is well known and within the skill of the practicing organic chemist. For example, the reaction performed on the A-B group may be a deprotection step, homologation, esterification, saponification, amide formation or the like.

Generally speaking, regarding derivatization of compounds of Formula 109 and/or the synthesis of aryl and heteroaryl compounds of Formula 10 which can thereafter be reacted with compounds of Formula 107, the following well known and published general principles and synthetic methodology can be employed.

As indicated above, carboxylic acids are typically esterified by refluxing the acid in a solution of the appropriate alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst such as hydrogen chloride or thionyl chloride. Alternatively, the carboxylic acid can be condensed with the appropriate alcohol in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and dimethylaminopyridine. The ester is recovered and purified by conventional means. Acetals and ketals are readily made by the method described in March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill Book Company, p. 810). Alcohols, aldehydes and ketones all may be protected by forming respectively, ethers and esters, acetals or ketals by known methods such as those described in McOmie, Plenum Publishing Press, 1973 and Protecting Groups, Ed Greene, John Wiley & Sons, 1981.

To increase the value of n in the compounds of Formula 108 before affecting the condensation reaction of Reaction Scheme 101 (where such compounds corresponding to Formula 108 are not available from a commercial source) aromatic or heteroaromatic carboxylic acids may be subjected to homologation (while the aldehyde group is protected) by successive treatment under Arndt-Eistert conditions or other homologation procedures. Alternatively, derivatives which are not carboxylic acids may also be homologated by appropriate procedures. The homologated acids can then be esterified by the general procedure outlined in the preceding paragraph.

Compounds of Formula 108, (or other intermediates or of the invention, as applicable) where A is an alkenyl group having one or more double bonds can be made for example, by synthetic schemes well known to the practicing organic chemist; for example by Wittig and like reactions, or by introduction of a double bond by elimination of halogen from an alpha-halo-arylalkyl-carboxylic acid, ester or like carboxaldehyde. Compounds of Formula 108 (or other intermediates or of the invention, as applicable) where the A group has a triple (acetylenic) bond can be made by reaction of a corresponding aromatic methyl ketone with strong base, such as lithium diisopropylamide, reaction with diethyl chlorophosphate and subsequent addition of lithium diisopropylamide.

The acids and salts derived from compounds of Formula 109 (or other intermediates or compounds of the invention, as applicable) are readily obtainable directly as a result of the condensation reaction, or from the corresponding esters. Basic saponification with an alkali metal base will provide the acid. For example, an ester of Formula 109 (or other intermediates or compounds of the invention, as applicable) may be dissolved in a polar solvent such as an alkanol, preferably under an inert atmosphere at room temperature, with about a three molar excess of base, for example, lithium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. The solution is stirred for an extended period of time, between 15 and 20 hours, cooled, acidified and the hydrolysate recovered by conventional means.

The amide may be formed by any appropriate amidation means known in the art from the corresponding esters or carboxylic acids. One way to prepare such compounds is to convert an acid to an acid chloride and then treat that compound with ammonium hydroxide or an appropriate amine.

Alcohols are made by converting the corresponding acids to the acid chloride with thionyl chloride or other means (J. March, Advanced Organic Chemistry, 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill Book Company), then reducing the acid chloride with sodium borohydride (March, Ibid, p. 1124), which gives the corresponding alcohols. Alternatively, esters may be reduced with lithium aluminum hydride at reduced temperatures. Alkylating these alcohols with appropriate Alkyl halides under Williamson reaction conditions (March, Ibid, p. 357) gives the corresponding ethers. These alcohols can be converted to esters by reacting them with appropriate acids in the presence of acid catalysts or dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and dimethylaminopyridine.

Aldehydes can be prepared from the corresponding primary alcohols using mild oxidizing agents such as pyridinium dichromate in methylene chloride (Corey, E. J., Schmidt, G., Tet. Lett., 399, 1979), or dimethyl sulfoxide/oxalyl chloride in methylene chloride (Omura, K, Swern, D., Tetrahedron, 34:1651 (1978)).

Ketones can be prepared from an appropriate aldehyde by treating the aldehyde with an alkyl Grignard reagent or similar reagent followed by oxidation.

Acetals or ketals can be prepared from the corresponding aldehyde or ketone by the method described in March, Ibid,:p. 810.

Referring now to Reaction Scheme 102, a synthetic route to those compounds of the invention is described in which, with reference to Formula 101 p is zero, R₂ in the aromatic portion of the condensed ring structure is OH and R₁₇ is OH. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that these compounds are β-diketones in the enol form. Reaction Scheme 102 also describes a synthetic route to those compounds of the invention where p is 1. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the latter compounds are flavones. Thus, in accordance with this scheme a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-methoxynaphthalene-1-one derivative of Formula 110 is reacted with dialkyl zinc (R₁Zn) in the presence of titanium tetrachloride in a suitable solvent such as CH₂Cl₂ to replace the oxo function with the geminal dialkyl group R₁R₁₁, to yield a compound of Formula 111, where R₁ is lower alkyl. In preferred embodiments of the compounds of the invention which are made in accordance with Reaction Scheme 102 the R₃ group is hydrogen and R₁ are methyl. Accordingly, the dialkyl zinc reagent is dimethyl zinc, and the preferred starting material of Formula 110 is 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-methoxynaphthalene-1-one. The latter compound is commercially available, for example from Aldrich Chemical Company. The 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,2-dialkyl-6-methoxy naphthalene derivative of Formula 111 is thereafter oxidized with chromium trioxide in acetic acid and acetic anhydride to give a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-3,4-dialkyl-7-methoxy naphthalen-1-one derivative of Formula 112. The ketone compound of Formula 112 is reacted with a Grignard reagent (R₁₄MgBr, R₁₄ is defined as in connection with Formula 101) to yield a 1-hydroxy-1-aryl-3,4-dihydro-3,4-dialkyl-7-methoxy naphthalene derivative of Formula 113. The hydroxy compound of Formula 1 3 is subjected to elimination by heating, preferably in acid, to yield the dihydronaphthalene compound of Formula 114. The methyl group is removed from the phenolic methyl ether function of the compound of Formula 114 by treatment with boron tribromide in a suitable solvent, such as CH₂Cl₂ and therafter the phenolic OH is acylated with an acylating agent that introduces the R₁₆CH₂CO group, to give a compound of Formula 115. In the preferred embodiment R₁₆ is H, and therefore the acylating agent is acetyl chloride or acetic anhydride. The acetylation reaction is conducted in a basic solvent, such as pyridine. The acylated phenol compound of Formula 115 is reacted with aluminum chloride at elevated temperature, causing it to undergo a Fries rearrangement and yield the 1-aryl-3,4-dialkyl-3,4-dihydro-6-acyl-7-hydroxy-naphthalene compound of Formula 116. The phenolic hydroxyl group of the compound of Formula 116 is acylated with an acylating agent (such as an acid chloride) that introduces the CO—Y(R₂)-A-B group to yield a compound of Formula 117. In the acid chloride reagent Cl—CO—Y(R₂)-A-B (or like acylating reagent) the symbols Y, R₂ and A-B have the meaning defined in connection with Formula 101. In the preparation of a preferred compound of the invention in accordance with this scheme this reagent is ClCOC₆H₄COOEt (the half ethyl ester half acid chloride of terephthalic acid).

The compound of Formula 117 is reacted with strong base, such as potassium hydroxyde in pyridine, to yield, as a result of an intramolecular Claisen condensation reaction, a compound of Formula 118. The compounds of Formula 118 are within the scope of the invention and of Formula 101, where there is an OH for the R₂ substituent in the aromatic portion of the condensed ring moiety and R₁₇ is OH. In connection with the foregoing reaction (intramolecular Claisen condensation) and the previously mentioned Fries rearrangement it is noted that these probable reaction mechanisms are mentioned in this description for the purpose of fully explaining the herein described reactions, and for facilitating the work of a person of ordinary skill in the art to perform the herein described reactions and prepare the compounds of the invention. Nevertheless, the present inventors do not wish to be bound by reaction mechanisms and theories, and the herein claimed invention should not be limited thereby.

The compounds of Formula 118 are reacted with strong acid, such as sulfuric acid, in a suitable protonic solvent, such as acetic acid, to yield the flavone compounds of Formula 119. The compounds of Formula 119 are also compounds of the invention, within the scope of Formula 101 where p is 1. Both the compounds of Formula 118 and Formula 119 can be subjected to further reactions and transformations to provide further homologs and derivatives, as described above in connection with Reaction Scheme 101. This is indicated in Reaction Scheme 102 as conversion to homologs and derivatives.

Referring now to Reaction Scheme 103 a synthetic route is shown leading to those compounds of the invention where, with reference to Formula 101 X is S, O or NR′, p is zero and R₁₇ is H or lower alkyl. However, by applying the generic principles of synthesis shown in Reaction Scheme 102 the presently shown synthetic process can be modified or adapted by those of ordinary skill in the art to also obtain compounds of the invention where X is S, O or NR′ and p is 1, or where X is S, O or NR′ and p is zero, the R₂ group in the aromatic portion of the condensed ring moiety is OH and R₁₇ is OH.

The starting compound of Reaction Scheme 103 is a phenol, thiophenol or aniline derivative of Formula 120. In the presently preferred compounds of the invention the R₂ and R₁₆ groups are both hydrogen, and the preferred starting compounds of Formula 120 are 3-ethenyl-thiophenol or 3-ethenyl-phenol which are known in the chemical literature (Nuyken, et al. Polym. Bull (Berlin) 11:165 (1984). For the sake of simplifying the present specification, in the ensuing description X can be considered primarily sulfur as for the preparation of benzothiopyran derivatives of the present invention. It should be kept in mind, however, that the herein described scheme is also suitable, with such modifications which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, for the preparation of benzopyran (X=O) and dihydroquinoline (X=NR′) compounds within the scope of the present invention. Thus, the compound of Formula 120 is reacted under basic condition with a 3-bromo carboxylic acid of the Formula 121. In this reaction scheme the symbols have the meaning described in connection with Formula 101. An example for the reagent of Formula 121 where R₃ is hydrogen, is 3-bromopropionic acid. The reaction with the 3-bromocarboxylic acid of Formula 121 results in the compound of Formula 122. The latter is cyclized by treatment with acid to yield the 7-ethenyl-thiochroman-4-one derivative (when X is S) or 7-ethenyl-chroman derivative (when X is 0) of Formula 123. The 7-ethenyl-thiochroman-4-one or 7-ethenyl-chroman-4-one derivative of Formula 123 is oxidized in the presence of Pd(II)Cl₂ and CuCl₂ catalysts to provide the corresponding 7-acyl (ketone) compound of Formula 124. Those skilled in the art will recognize the latter reaction as a Wacker oxidation. The exocyclic ketone group of the compound of Formula 124 is protected in the form of a ketal, for example by treatment with ethylene glycol in acid, to provide the 1,3-dioxolanyl derivative of Formula 125. Thereafter the compound of Formula 125 is subjected to a sequence of reactions analogous to those described for the compounds of Formula 105 in Reaction Scheme 101. Thus, the 1,3-dioxolanyl derivative of Formula 125 is reacted with a Grignard reagent of the formula R₁₄MgBr to give the tertiary alcohol of Formula 126, which is thereafter dehydrated in acid to provide the benzothiopyran (X is S), benzopyran (X is O) or dihydroquinoline (X is NR′) derivative of Formula 127. The ketone compound of Formula 127 is then reacted in the presence of base with the reagent of Formula 108 in an aldol condensation (Claisen-Schmidt) reaction to provide compounds of the invention of Formula 128. The compounds of Formula 128 can be converted into further homologs and derivatives, as described above in connection with Reaction Schemes 101 and 102.

SPECIFIC EXAMPLES 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-5-phenylpentane

To a mixture of magnesium turnings 13.16 g (0.541 mol) in 200 ml of anhydrous Et₂O was added 100.0 g (0.492 mol) of 1-bromo-3-phenyl propane as a solution in 100 ml of Et₂O. After of 5-10 ml of the solution had been added, the addition was stopped until the formation of the Grignard reagent was in progress. The remaining bromide was then added over 1 hour. The Grignard reagent was stirred for 20 minutes at 35° C. and then 31.64 g (0.541 mol) of acetone was added over a 45 minute period. The reaction was stirred overnight at room temperature before being cooled to 0° C. and acidified by the careful addition of 20% HCl. The aqueous layer was extracted with Et₂O (3×200 ml) and the combined organic layers washed with water, and saturated aqueous NaCl before being dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvent under reduced pressure and distillation of the residue afforded 63.0 g (72%) of the product as a pale-yellow oil, bp 99-102° C./10.5 mm Hg. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.28-7.18 (5H, m), 2.63 (2H, t, J=7.5 Hz), 1.68 (2H, m), 1.52 (2H, m), 1.20 (6H, s).

1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,1-dimethylnaphthalene

A mixture of P₂O, (55.3 g, 0.390 mol) in 400 ml of methanesulfonic acid was heated to 105° C. under argon until all of the solid had dissolved. The resulting solution was cooled to room temperature and 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-5-phenylpentane (63.0 g, 0.354 mol) added slowly with stirring. After 4 hours the reaction was quenched by carefully pouring the solution onto 1 L of ice. The resulting mixture was extracted with Et₂O (4×125 ml)and the combined organic layers washed with water, saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, water, and saturated aqueous NaCl before being dried over MgSO₄. Concentration of the solution under reduced pressure, followed by distillation afforded 51.0 g (90%) of the product as a clear colorless oil, bp. 65-67° C./1.1 mmHg. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.32 (1H, d, J=7.4 Hz), 7.16-7.05 (3H, m), 2.77 (2H, t, J=6.3 Hz), 1.80 (2H, m), 1.66 (2H, m), 1.28 (6H, s).

3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound A)

A solution of 350 ml of glacial acetic acid and 170 ml of acetic anhydride was cooled to 0° C. and CrO₃, 25.0 g (0.25 mol) carefully added in small portions. The resulting mixture was stirred for 30 minutes before 120 ml of benzene was added. 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,1-dimethylnaphthalene was added slowly as a solution in 30 ml of benzene. Upon completing the addition the reaction was stirred for 4 hours at 0° C. The solution was diluted with H₂O (200 ml) and extracted with Et₂O (5×50 ml). The combined organic layers were washed with water, saturated aqueous NaCO₃, and saturated aqueous NaCl, before being dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure, and distillation afforded 16.0 g (74%) of the product as a pale-yellow oil, bp 93-96° C./0.3 mm Hg 1H NMR (CDCl₁₃): δ 8.02 (1H, dd, J=1.3, 7.8 Hz), 7.53 (1H, m), 7.42 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz), 7.29 (1H, m), 2.74 (2H, t, J=6.8 Hz), 2.02 (2H, t, J=6.8 Hz), 1.40 (6H, s).

3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-bromo-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound B)

A 100 ml three-necked flask, fitted with an efficient reflux condenser and drying tube, and addition funnel, was charged with a mixture of AlC₃ 9.5 g (71.4 mmol) and 3 ml of CH₂Cl₂. The 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone (5.0 g, 28.7 mmol), was added dropwise with stirring (Caution: Exothermic Reaction!) to the mixture at room temperature. Bromine, 5.5 g (34.5 mmol), was then added very slowly, and the resulting mixture stirred for 2 hours at room temperature. (Note: if stirring stops, the mixture can be warmed to 70° C. until stirring resumes.) The reaction was then quenched by the slow addition of ice-cold 6M HCl. The mixture was extracted with Et₂O and the combined organic layers washed with water, saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, and saturated NaCl, before being dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvent under reduced pressure, and distillation of the residue afforded 5.8 g (80%) of the product as a pale-yellow oil which solidified on standing, bp: 140° C./0.4 mm Hg. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.11 (1H, d, J=3.0 Hz), 7.61 (1H, dd, J=3.0, 9.0 Hz), 7.31 (1H, d, J=9.0 Hz), 2.72 (2H, t, J=6.0 Hz), 2.01 (2H, t, J=6.0 Hz), 1.28 (6H, s).

1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-hydroxy-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-7-bromonaphthalene (Compound C)

To a mixture of magnesium turnings (648.0 mg, 27.0 mmol) in 25 ml of THF was added a solution of 4-bromotoluene (5.40 g, 31.8 mmol) in 10 ml of THF in two portions. The reaction was initiated by the addition of 2 ml of the solution, followed by the slow addition of the remaining solution via an addition funnel. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour, and then the solution was transferred to a second flask using a canula. To the resulting Grignard reagent was added 4.0 g (15.9 mmol) of 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-bromo-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound B) as a solution in 15 ml of THF. The resulting solution was heated to reflux overnight, cooled to room temperature, and the reaction quenched by the careful addition of ice-cold 10% HCl. Extraction with Et₂O was followed by washing of the combined organic layers with H₂O and saturated aqueous. NaCl, then drying over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvent under reduced pressure provided an oil which afforded the product as a colorless solid after column chromatography (hexanes/EtOAc, 96: 4). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.36 (1H, dd, J=2.1, 7.6 Hz), 7.26 (3H, m), 7.12 (3H, s), 2.34 (3H, s), 2.24-2.04 (2H, m), 1.81 (1H, m), 1.55 (1H, m), 1.35 (3H, s), 1.30 (3H, s).

3,4-dihydro-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-7-bromonaphthalene (Compound D)

A flask equipped with a Dean-Stark trap was charged with 3.4 g of (9.85 mmol) of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-hydroxy-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-7-bromonaphthalene (Compound C) and 40 ml of benzene. A catalytic amount of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate was added and the resulting solution heated to reflux for 2 hours. Upon cooling to room temperature, Et₂O was added and the solution washed with H₂O, saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, and saturated aqueous NaCl then dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure, and column chromatography (100% hexane/silica gel) afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.32 (1H, dd, J=2.1, 8.2 Hz), 7.21 (5H, m), 7.15 (1H, d, J=2.1 Hz), 5.98 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 2.40 (3H, s), 2.32 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.30 (6H, s).

7-Ethynyl-3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethylnaphthalen-1(2H)-one (Compound E)

To a solution (flushed for 15 minutes with a stream of argon) of 7 g (27.6 mmol) of 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-bromo-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound B) in 150 ml of triethylamine was added 0.97 g (1.3 mmol) of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride and 0.26 g (13 mmol) of cuprous iodide. The solution mixture was flushed with argon for 5 minutes and then 39 ml (36.6 mmol) of (trimethylsilyl)acetylene was added. The reaction mixture was sealed in a pressure tube and placed in a preheated oil bath (100° C.) for 24 hours. The reaction mixture was then filtered through Celite, washed with Et₂O and the filtrate concentrated in vacuo to give crude 7-(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl-3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethylnaphthalen-1(2H)-one. To a solution of this crude TMS-acetylenic compound in 50 ml of methanol was added 0.6 g (4.3 mmol) of K₃CO₃. The mixture was stirred for 8 hours at ambient temperature and then filtered. The filtrate was concentrated in vacuo, diluted with Et₂O, washed with water, 10% HCl and brine, dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated in vacuo. Purification by column chromatography (silica, 10% EtOAc-hexane) yielded the title compound as a white solid. PMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.39 (6H, s), 2.02 (2H, t, J=7.0 Hz), 2.73 (2H, t, J=7.0 Hz), 3.08 (1H, s), 7.39 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.61 (1H, dd, J=1.8, 8.2 Hz), 8.14 (1H, d, J=9 1.8 Hz).

Ethyl-4-iodobenzoate

To a suspension of 10 g (40.32 mmol) of 4-iodobenzoic acid in 100 ml absolute ethanol was added 2 ml thionyl chloride and the mixture was then heated at reflux for 3 hours. Solvent was removed in vacuo and the residue was dissolved in 100 ml ether. The ether solution was washed with saturated NaHCO₃ and saturated NaCl solutions and dried (MgSO₄). Solvent was then removed in vacuo and the residue Kugelrohr distilled (100° C.; 0.55 mm) to give the title compound as a colorless oil, PMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.42 (3H, t, J˜7 Hz), 4.4 (2H, q, J˜7 Hz), 7.8 (4H).

6-iodonicotinic acid

Sodium iodide (20.59 g, 137.40 mmol) was cooled to −78° C. under argon and then hydriodic acid (97.13 g, 759.34 mmol) was added. The cooling bath was removed and the suspension was stirred for 5 minutes. To this mixture was added 6-chloronicotinic acid (22.09 g, 140.20 mmol) and the resulting mixture was slowly warmed to ambient temperature with stirring. The mixture was heated to reflux at 125° C. for 24 hours, cooled to ambient temperature and poured into acetone (500 ml) at 0° C. The yellow solid was collected by filtration and washed with 200 ml of 1N aqueous NaHSO₃ solution. Recrystallization from methanol (crystals were washed with ethyl ether) afforded the title compound as white crystals: mp 177-179° C. [lit. mp 187-192, Newkome et al. “Reductive Dehalogenation of Electron-Poor Heterocycles: Nicotinic Acid Derivatives” J Org. Chem. 51: 953-954 (1986). 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): δ 8.81 (1H, dd, J=0.8, 2.4 Hz), 8.01 (1H, dd, J=0.8, 8.2 Hz), 7.91 (1H, dd, J=2.4, 8.2 Hz).

Ethyl 6-iodonicotinoate

To a suspension of 6-iodonicotinic acid (23.38 g, 94.20 mmol) in dichloromethane (100 ml) was added a solution of 13-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (19.86 g, 103.6 mmol) in dichloromethane (250 ml). To this mixture was added ethanol (12.40 g, 269.27 mmol) followed by dimethylaminopyridine (1.15 g, 9.41 mmol). The mixture was heated at 50° C. for 24.5 hours, concentrated in vacuo, and diluted with water (200 ml) then extracted with ethyl ether (550 ml). The combined organic phases were washed with saturated aqueous NaCl, dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated to a yellow solid. Purification by flash chromatography (silica, 10% EtOAc-hexane) afforded the title compound as white needles: mp 48-49° C.; 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.94 (1H, d, J=2.1 Hz), 7.91 (1H, dd, J=2.1, 8.2 Hz), 7.85 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 4.41 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 1.41 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-oxo-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound F)

To a solution of 4 g (21.7 mmol) of 7-ethynyl-3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethylnaphthalen-1(2H)-one (Compound E) flushed for 15 minutes with a stream of argon, and 6 g (21.7 mmol) of ethyl 4-iodobenzoate in 100 ml of triethylamine was added 5 g (72 mmol) of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride and 1.4 g (7.2 mmol) of cuprous iodide. The mixture was flushed with argon for 5 minutes and then stirred at ambient temperature for 18 hours. The reaction mixture was filtered through Celite and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. Purification by flash chromatography (silica, 10% EtOAc-hexane) yielded the title compound as a white solid. PMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.41 (3H, t, J=7.2 Hz), 1.41 (6H, s), 2.04 (2H, t, J=6.5 Hz), 2.76 (2H, t, J=6.5 Hz), 4.40 (2H, q, J=7.2 Hz), 7.44 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.59 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.68 (1H, dd, J=1.8, 82 Hz), 8.04 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 8.15 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G)

To a cold solution (−78° C.) of 291.6 mg (1.59 mmol) of sodium bis(trimethylsily)amide in 5.6 ml of THF was added a solution of 500.0 mg (1.44 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-oxo-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound F) in 4.0 ml of THF. The reaction mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 35 minutes and then a solution of 601.2 mg (1.59 mmol) of 5-chloro(2-bis-triflouromethylsulfonyl)imide in 4.0 ml of THF was added. After stirring at −78° C. for 1 hour, the solution was warmed to 0° C. and stirred for 2 hours. The reaction was quenched by the addition of saturated aqueous NH₄Cl. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (50 ml) and the combined organic layers were washed with 5% aqueous NaOH, water, and brine. The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄ and then concentrated in vacuo to a yellow oil. Purification by column chromatography (silica, 7% EtOAc-hexanes) yielded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.04 (2H, dd, J=1.8, 8.4 Hz), 7.60 (2H, dd, J=1.8, 8.4 Hz), 7.51 (2H, m), 732 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 4.40 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 6.02 (1H, t, J=5.0 Hz), 2.44 (2H, d, J=5.0 Hz), 1.43 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.33 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1)

A solution of 4-lithiotoluene was prepared by the addition of 189.9 mg (1.74 ml, 2.96 mmol) of t-butyl lithium (1.7M solution in hexanes) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 253.6 mg (1.482 mmol) of 4-bromotoluene in 2.0 ml of THF. After stirring for 30 minutes a solution of 269.4 mg (1.977 mmol) of zinc chloride in 3.0 ml of THF was added. The resulting solution was warmed to room temperature, stirred for 30 minutes, and added via cannula to a solution of 472.9 mg (0.988 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) and 50 mg (0.04 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 4.0 ml of THF. The resulting solution was heated at 50° C. for 45 minutes, cooled to room temperature and diluted with sat. aqueous NH₄Cl. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (40 ml) and the combined organic layers were washed with water and brine. The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to a yellow oil. Purification by column chromatography (silica, 5% EtOAc-hexanes) yielded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (d6-acetone): δ 1.35 (6H, s), 1.40 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 2.36 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 2.42 (3H, s), 4.38 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 5.99 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 7.25 (5H, m), 7.35 (2H, m), 7.52 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.98 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-phenyl-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1a)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 203.8 mg (0.43 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 58.2 mg (0.36 ml, 0.69 mmol) of phenyllithium (1.8M solution in cyclohexane/Et₂O), 116.1 mg (0.85 mmol) of zinc chloride and 13.8 mg (0.01 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0). PMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.36 (6H, s), 1.40 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 2.37 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 4.38 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 6.02 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 7.20 (1H, d, J=1.5 Hz), 7.27 (1H, m), 7.39 (6H, m), 7.52 (2H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.98 (2H, d, J=8.2 Hz).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(3-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 2)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 250.0 mg (0.522 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 284.8 mg (2.090 mmol) of zinc chloride, 24 mg (0.02 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 2.0 ml of THF, and 3-methylphenyl lithium (prepared by adding 201.2 mg (1.86 ml, 3.14 mmol) of tert-butyllithium (1.7M solution in pentane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 274.0 mg (1.568 mmol) of 3-methylbromobenzene in 2.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.99 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.51 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.39-7.14 (7H, m), 5.99 (1H; t, J=4.7 Hz), 4.37 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.60 (3H, s), 2.35 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.39 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.34 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 3)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 200.0 mg (0.418 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 199.4 mg (1.463 mmol) of zinc chloride, 24 mg (0.02 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 4.0 ml of THF, and 2-methylphenyl lithium (prepared by adding 133.9 mg (123 ml, 2.09 mmol) of tert-butyllithium (1.7M solution in pentane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 178.7 mg (1.045 mmol) of 2-methylbromobenzene in 2.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.97 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.50 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.49-7.19 (6H, m), 6.81 (1H, d, J=1.6 Hz), 5.89 (1H, t, J=4.5 Hz), 4.36 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.43-2.14 (2H, dq, J=3.7, 5.4 Hz), 2.15 (3H, s), 1.39-1.34 (9H, m).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 4)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 250.0 mg (0.522 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 249.0 mg (1.827 mmol) of zinc chloride, 24 mg (0.02 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 2.0 ml of THF, and 3,5-dimethylphenyl lithium (prepared by adding 167.7 mg (1.54 ml, 2.62 mmol) of tert-butyllithium (1.7M solution in pentane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 249.0 mg (1.305 mmol) of 3,5-dimethylbromobenzene in 2.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.98 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.52 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.40-7.33 (2H, m), 7.20 (1H, d, J=1.6 Hz), 7.00 (1H, s), 6.97 (2H, s), 5.97 (1H, t, J=4.8 Hz), 4.37 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.36 (6H, s), 2.34 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 1.39 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.37 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-ethylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 5)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 250.0 mg (0.522 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 249.0 mg (1.827 mmol) of zinc chloride, 24 mg (0.02 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 2.0 ml of THF, and 4-ethylphenyl lithium (prepared by adding 167.7 mg (1.54 ml, 2.62 mmol) of tert-butyllithium (1.7M solution in pentane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 244.0 mg (1.305 mmol) of 4-ethylbromobenzene in 2.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.99 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.51 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.42-7.24 (7H, m), 5.99 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 4.37 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.71 (2H, q, J=7.6 Hz), 2.35 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.39 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.34 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-(1,1-dimethyl)phenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 6)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-thiazolyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 250.0 mg (0.52 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 142.4 mg (1.045 mmol) of zinc chloride and 4-tert-butylphenyl lithium (prepared by adding 100.6 mg (0.97 ml, 1.57 mmol) of tert-butyllithium (1.5M solution in pentane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 167.0 mg (0.78 mmol) of 4-tert-butylbromobenzene in 1.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR CDCl₃): δ 7.99 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.55 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.28-7.45 (7H, m), 6.02 (1H, t, J=4.9 Hz), 4.38 (2H, q, J=7.2 Hz), 2.36 (2H, d, J=4.9 Hz), 1.59 (3H, s), 1.40 (3H, t, J=7.2 Hz), 1.39 (9H, s), 1.35 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 7)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 250.0 mg (0.522 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 249.0 mg (1.827 mmol) of zinc chloride, 24 mg (0.02 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 2.0 ml of THF, and 4-chlorophenyl lithium (prepared by adding 167.7 mg (1.54 ml, 2.62 mmol) of tert-butyllithium (1.7M solution in pentane) to a cold solution (−78^[° C.) of 252.4 mg (1.305 mmol) of 4chloro-1-bromobenzene in 2.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.98 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.53 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.40-7.27 (6H, m), 7.12 (1H, d, J=1.6 Hz), 6.00 (1H, t, J=4.8 Hz), 4.37 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.35 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 1.40 (2H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.34 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 8)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 250.0 mg (0.522 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 249.0 mg (1.827 mmol) of zinc chloride, 24 mg (0.02 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 2.0 ml of THF, and 4-methoxyphenyl lithium (prepared by adding 167.7 mg (1.54 ml, 2.62 mmol) of tert-butyllithium (1.7M solution in pentane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 244.1 mg (1.305 mmol) of 4-methoxy-1-bromobenzene in 2.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.98 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.52 (2H, d, J=8.6 Hz), 7.40-7.21 (5H, m), 6.95 (2H, d, J=8.7 Hz), 5.97 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 4.37 , q, J=7.1 Hz), 4.34 (3H, s), 2.34 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.39 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.34 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 9)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 250.0 mg (0.522 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 249.0 mg (1.827 mmol) of zinc chloride, 24 mg (0.02 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 2.0 ml of THF, and 4-trifluoromethylphenyl lithium (prepared by adding 167.7 mg (1.54 ml, 2.62 mmol) of tert-butyllithium (1.7M solution in pentane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 296.6 mg (1.305 mmol) of 4-trifluoromethylbromobenzene in 2.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.98 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.67 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.54-7.36 (6H, m), 7.10 (1H, d, J=1.6 Hz), 6.06 (1H, t, J=4.8 Hz), 4.37 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.38 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 1.39 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.35 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-pyridyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 10)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 250.0 mg (0.52 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 142.4 mg (1.045 mmol) of zinc chloride and 2-lithiopyridine (prepared by the addition of 100.6 mg (0.97 ml, 1.57 mmol) of tert-butyllithium (1.5M solution in pentane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 123.8 mg (0.784 mmol) of 2-bromopyridine in 1.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (d6-acetone): ^[δ 8.64 (1H, m), 7.99 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.85 (1H, ddd, J=1.8, 7.7, 9.5 Hz), 7.58 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.50 (1H, d, J=7.7 Hz), 7.47 (2 H, d, J=1.1 Hz), 7.35 (2H, m), 6.32 (1H, t, J=4.8 Hz), 4.34 (2H, q, J=7.2 Hz), 2.42 (2H, d, J=7.4 Hz), 1.35 (3H, t, J=7.0 hz), 1.35 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(3-pyridyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 11)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 170.0 mg (0.35 mmol) of ethyl 4-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 142.4 mg (1.045 mmol) of zinc chloride and 3-lithiopyridine (prepared by the addition of 100.2 mg (0.92 ml, 1.56 mmol) of tert-butyllithium (1.5M solution in pentane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 123.8 mg (0.784 mmol) of 3-bromopyridine in 1.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.63-8.61 (2H, dd, J=1.7 Hz), 7.99 2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.67 (1H, dt, J=7.9 Hz), 7.52 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.43-7.34 (3H, m), 7.10 (1H, d, J=1.6 Hz), 6.07 (1H, t, J=4.7. Hz); 4.37 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.40 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.390 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.36 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-methyl-5-pyridyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 12)

Employing the same general or the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 250.0 mg (0.522 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 142.4 mg (1.045 mmol) of zinc chloride and 2-methyl-5-lithiopyridine (prepared by the addition of 100.5 mg (0.92 ml, 1.57 mmol) of tert-butyllithium (1.7 M solution in pentane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 134.8 mg (0.784 mmol) of 2-methyl-5-bromopyridine in 1.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.50 (1H, d, J=2.2 Hz), 7.99 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.56 (1H, dd, J=2.3, 8.0 Hz), 7.53 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.43 (1H, dd, J=2.3, 8.0 Hz), 7.37 (2H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 7.21 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.11 (1H, d, J=1.5 Hz), 6.04 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 4.38 (2H, q, J=7.2 Hz), 2.63 (3H, s), 2.38 (2H, d, J=4.6 Hz), 1.40 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.35 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(3-((2,2-dimethylethyl)-dimethylsiloxy)phenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound H)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G), 150.0 mg (0.314 mmol) of ethyl 4-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 150.0 mg (1.10 mmol) of zinc chloride 24 mg (0.02 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 2.0 ml of THF, and 3-((2,2-dimethylethyl)dimethylsiloxy)phenyl lithium (prepared by adding 100.2 mg (0.92 ml, 1.564 mmol) of tert-butyllithium (1.7M solution in pentane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 226.0 mg (0.787 mmol) of 3-((2,2-dimethylethyl)dimethylsiloxy)bromobenzene in 2.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃); δ 7.98 (2H, d, J=84 H), 7.51 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.40-7.22 (4H, m), 6.95 (1H, d, J=7.6 Hz), 6.84-6.82 (2H, m), 6.00 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 437 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.35 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.39 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.34 (3H, s), 0.99 (9H, s), 0.23 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-((2,2-dimethylethyl)-dimethylsiloxy)phenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound I)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 2100 mg (0.439 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynylbenzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid using 209.0 mg (1.53 mmol) of zinc chloride, 24 mg (0.02 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 2.0 ml of THF, and 4-((2,2-dimethylethyl)dimethylsiloxy)phenyl lithium (prepared by adding 140.3 mg (1.30 ml, 2.19 mmol) of tert-butyllithium (1.7M solution in pentane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 315.0 mg (1.09 mmol) of 4-((2,2-dimethylethyl)dimethylsiloxy)bromobenzene in 2.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.98 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.51 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.39-7.25 (3H, m), 7.21 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 5.87 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 5.96 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 4.37 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.33 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.39 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.33 (6H, s), 1.01 (9H, s), 0.25 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 13)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(3-((2,2-dimethylethyl)-dimethylsiloxy)-phenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound H) 60.0 mg (0.114 mmol) in 1.0 ml of THF at room temperature was added 91.5 mg (0.35 ml, 0.35 mmol) of tetrabutylamonium flouride (1 M solution in THF). After stirring overnight, the solution was diluted with EtOAc and washed with H₂O and saturated aqueous NaCl, before being dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure, followed by column chromatography (4:1, Hexanes:EtOAc) afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.98 (2H, d, J=7.8 Hz), 7.52 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.39-7.21 (4H, m), 6.93 (1H, d, J=7.5 Hz), 6.84 (1H, d, 7.1 Hz), 6.83 (1H, s), 6.01 1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 4.91 (1H, s), 4.39 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.35 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.39 (31, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.34 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 14)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-((2,2-dimethylethyl)-dimethylsiloxy)phenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound I) 50.0 mg (0.095 mmol) in 1.0 ml of THF at room temperature was added 73.2 mg (0.29 ml, 0.29 mmol) of tetrabutylamonium fluoride (1 M solution in THF). After stirring overnight, the solution was diluted with EtOAc and washed with H₂O and saturated aqueous NaCl, before being dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure, followed by column chromatography (4:1, Hexanes:EtOAc) afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.98 (2H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.52 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.41-7.20 (5H, m), 6.88 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 5.96 (1H, t, J=4.5 Hz), 4.37 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.34 (2H, d, J=4.5 Hz), 1.39 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.34 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(5-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 15)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 264.0 mg (0.552 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 150.0 mg (1.10 mmol) of zinc chloride, 14 mg (0.012 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 4.0 ml of THF, and 5-methylthiazol-2-yl lithium (prepared by adding 53.2 mg (0.53 ml, 0.83 mmol) of n-butyllithium (1.55 M solution in hexanes) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 82.0 mg (0.83 mmol) of 5-methylthiazole in 5.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.99 (2H, d, J=7.8 Hz), 7.88 (1H, d, J=1.5 Hz), 7.55 (2H, d, J=7.8 Hz), 7.54 (1H, s), 7.45 (1H, dd, J=1.5, 8.0 Hz), 7.35 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz), 6.48 (1H, t, J=4.8 Hz), 4.38 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.51 (3H, s), 2.38 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 1.40 (3H, s), 1.32 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-thiazolyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 15a)

A solution of 2-lithiothiazole was prepared by the addition of 41.2 mg (0.42 ml, 0.63 mmol) of n-butyl-lithium (1.5M solution in hexanes) to a cold solution (−78 ° C.) of 53.4 mg (0.63 mmol) of thiazole in 1.0 ml of THF. The solution was stirred at for 30 minutes and then a solution of 113.9 mg (0.84 mmol) of zinc chloride in 1.5 ml of THF was added. The resulting solution was warmed to room temperature, stirred for 30 minutes and then the organozinc was added via cannula to a solution of 200.0 mg. (0.42 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) and 12.4 mg (0.01 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 1.5 ml of THF. The resulting solution was heated at 50° C. for 45 minutes, cooled to room temperature and diluted with sat aqueous NH₄Cl. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (40 ml) and the combined organic layers were washed with water and brine. The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in-vacuo to a yellow oil. Purification by column chromatography (silica, 20% EtOAc-hexanes) yielded the title compound as a colorless oil. PMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.35 (6H, s), 1.40 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 2.42 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 4.38 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 6.57 (1H, t, J=4.8 Hz), 7.33 (1H, d, J=3.3 Hz), 7.36 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 7.46 (1H, dd, J=1.7, 8.1 Hz), 7.55 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.87 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz), 7.92 (1H, d, J=3.3 Hz), 8.00 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylthiazol)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 16)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 295.0 mg (0.617 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 168.0 mg (1.23 mmol) of zinc chloride, 16 mg (0.014 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 6.0 ml of THF, and 4-methylthiazol-2-yl lithium (prepared by adding 59.6 mg (0.60 ml, 0.93 mmol) of n-butyllithium (1.55 M solution in hexanes) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 92.0 mg (0.93 mmol) of 4-methylthiazole in 6.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.00 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.80 (1H, d, J=1.7 H), 7.55 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.45 (1H, dd, J=1.7, 8.0 Hz), 7.35 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 6.87 (1H, s), 6.52 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 4.37 (2H, q, J=7.2 Hz), 2.54 (3H, s), 2.39 (2H, d, J=4.7 Ht), 1.40 (3H, t, J=7.2 Hz), 133 (3H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl )-2-naphthalenyl) ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 13)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 200.0 mg (0.418 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 110.0 mg (0.84 mmol) of zinc chloride, 12 mg (0.011 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 2.0 ml of THF, and 4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl lithium (prepared by adding 40.2 mg (039 ml, 0.63 mmol) of n-butyllithium. (1.55 M solution in hexanes) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 71.0 mg (0.63 mmol) of 4,5-dimethylthiazole in 2.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.00 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.82 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz), 7.54 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.43 (1H, dd, J=1.7, 8.0 Hz), 7.33-91H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 6.45 (1H, t, J=4.9 Hz), 4.38 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.41 (3H, s), 2.40 (3H, s), 2.37 (2H, d, J=4.9 Hz), 1.40 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.32 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-methyl-5-pyridyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 18)

A solution of 81.7 mg (0.194 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-methyl-5-pyridyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 12) and 40.7 mg (0.969 mmol) of LiOH—H₂O in 3 ml of THF/water (3:1, v/v), was stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction was quenched by the addition of saturated aqueous NH₄Cl and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with water and brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (d6-DMSO): δ 8.41 (1H, d, J=1.9 Hz), 7.90 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.63 (1H, dd, J=2.3, 7.9 Hz), 7.59 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.49 (2H, m), 7.33 (1H, d, J=7.8 Hz), 6.95 (1H, s), 6.11 (1H, t, J=4.5 Hz), 2.52 (3H, s), 2.37 (2H, d, J=4.6 Hz), 1.31 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-pyridyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 19)

A solution of 80.0 mg (0.196 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-pyridyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 10) and 20.6 mg (0.491 mmol) of LiOH—H₂O in 3 ml of THF/water (3:1, v/v), was stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction was quenched by the addition of saturated aqueous NH₄Cl and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with water and brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (d6-DMSO): δ 8.64 (1H, m), 7.94 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.87 (1H, dt, J=1.7, 7.8 Hz), 7.58 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.50 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.47 (2H, s), 7.37 (1H, m), 7.25 (1H, s), 6.30 (1H, t, J=4.6 Hz), 2.39 (2H, d, J=4.6 Hz), 1.31 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(3-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 20)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(3-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 2) 30.0 mg (0.071 mmol) in 3 ml of EtOH and 2 ml of THF was added 28.0 mg (0.70 mmol, 0.7 ml) of NaOH (1.0 M aqueous solution). The solution was heated to 50° C. for 2 hours, cooled to room temperature, and acidified with 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc, followed by drying over Na₂SO₄, and removal of the solvents under reduced pressure afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (DMSO): δ 7.90 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.59 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.46 (2H, s), 7.32-7.13 (4H, m), 7.10 (1H, s), 6.98 (1H, t, J=4.5 Hz), 2.34 (3H, s), 2.31 (2H, d, J=4.5 Hz), 1.30 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-ethylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 21)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-ethylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 5) 470 mg (0.108 mmol) in 3 ml of EtOH and 2 ml of THF was added 28.0 mg (0.70 mmol, 0.7 ml) of NaOH (1.0 M aqueous solution). The solution was heated to 50° C. for 2 hours, cooled to room temperature, and acidified with 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc, followed by drying over Na₂SO₄, and removal of the solvents under reduced pressure afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (DMSO): δ 7.90 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.59 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.46 (2H, s), 7.29-7.21 (4H, m), 7.02 (1H, s), 6.01 (1H, t, J=4.5 Hz), 2.64 (2H, q, J=7.5 Hz), 2.33 (2H, d, J=4.5 Hz), 1.29 (6H, s), 1.22 (3H, t, J=7.5 Hz).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 22)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 8) 80.0 mg (0.183 mmol) in 3 ml of EtOH and 2 ml of THF was added 40.0 mg (1.00 mmol, 1.0 ml) of NaOH (1.0 M aqueous solution). The solution was heated to 50° C. for 2 hours, cooled to room temperature, and acidified with 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc, followed by drying over Na₂SO₄, and removal of the solvents under reduced pressure afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (DMSO): δ 7.90 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.60 (2H, d, 18.3 Hz), 7.45 (2H, s), 7.24 (2H, d, J=8.6 Hz), 7.02-6.89 (3H, m), 5.98 (1H, t, J=4.4 Hz), 3.79 (3H, s), 2.31 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 129 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(42-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 23)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 9) 70.0 mg (0.148 mmol) in 3 ml of EtOH and 2 ml of THF was added 60.0 mg (1.50 mmol, 1.50 ml) of NaOH (1.0 M aqueous solution). The solution was heated to 50° C. for 2 hours, cooled to room temperature, and acidified with 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc, followed by drying over Na₂SO₄, and removal of the solvents under reduced pressure afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (DMSO): δ 7.90 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.80 (2H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.61-7.47 (6H, m), 6.97 (2H, s), 6.16 (1H, t, J=4.5 Hz), 2.37 (2H, d, J=4.6 Hz), 1.30 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 24)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]-benzoate (Compound 4) 90.0 mg (0.207 mmol) in 3 ml of EtOH and 2 ml of THF was added 48.0 mg (1.20 mmol, 1.20 ml) of NaOH (1.0 M aqueous solution). The solution was heated to 50° C. for 2 hours, cooled to room temperature, and acidified with 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc, followed by drying over Na₂-ylSO₄, and removal of the solvents under reduced pressure afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (DMSO): δ 7.90 (2H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.59 (2H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.45 (2H, s), 7.00 (1H, s), 6.97 (1H, s), 5.97 (1H t, J=4.5 Hz), 2.31 (2H d, J=4.5 Hz), 2.30 (6H, s), 1.29 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 25)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 7) 80.0 mg (0.181 mmol) in 3 ml of EtOH and 2 ml of THF was added 48.0 mg (1.20 mmol, 1.20 ml) of NaOH (1.0 M aqueous solution). The solution was heated to 50° C. for 2 hours, cooled to room temperature, and acidified with 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc, followed by drying over Na₂SO₄, and removal of the solvents under reduced pressure afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (MSO): δ 7.90 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.60 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.51-7.48 (4H, m), 7.34 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 6.97 (1H, s), 6.07 (1H, t, J=4.5 Hz), 2.34 (2H, d, J=4.6 Hz), 1.29 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(3-pyridyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 26)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(3-pyridyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 11) 45.0 mg (0.110 mmol) in 3 ml of EtOH and 2 ml of THF was added 48.0 mg (1.20 mmol, 1.20 ml) of NaOH (1.0 M aqueous solution). The solution was heated to 50° C. for 2 hours, cooled to room temperature, and acidified with 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc, followed by drying over Na₂SO₄, and removal of the solvents under reduced pressure afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (DMSO): δ 8.60 (1H, d, J=4.6 Hz), 8.55 (1H, s), 7.90 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.76 (1H, d, J=7.5 Hz), 7.60 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.51-7.46 (3H, m), 6.94 (1H, s), 6.14 (1H, t, J=4.5 Hz), 2.37 (2H, d, J=4.5 Hz), 1.31 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 27)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]-benzoate (Compound 3) 80.0 mg (0.190 mmol) in 3 ml of EtOH and 2 ml of THF was added 60.0 mg (1.50 mmol, 1.50 ml) of NaOH (1.0 M aqueous solution). The solution was heated to 50° C. for 2 hours, cooled to room temperature, and acidified with 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc, followed by drying over Na₂SO₄, and removal of the solvents under reduced pressure afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (DMSO): δ 7.89(2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.57 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.46 (2H, s), 7.29-7.14 (4H, m), 6.59 (1H, s), 5.90 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 2.39 (2H, m), 2.60 (3H, s), 1.39 (3H, s), 1.29 (3H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 28)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(3-((2,2-dimethylethyl)-dimethylsiloxy)phenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound H) 40.0 mg (0.076 mmol) in 3 ml of EtOH and 2 ml of THF was added 40.0 mg (1.00 mmol, 1.00 ml) of NaOH (1.0 M aqueous solution). The solution was heated to 50° C. for 2 hours, cooled to room temperature, and acidified with 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc, followed by drying over Na₂SO₄, and removal of the solvents under reduced pressure afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (d6-acetone): δ 7.90 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.49 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.35 (2H, s), 7.15-7.07 (2H, m), 6.77-6.69 (3H, m), 5.92 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 2.25 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.23 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 29)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-((2,2-dimethylethyl)-dimethylsiloxy)phenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl[benzoate (Compound I) 75.0 mg (0.143 mmol) in 3 ml of EtOH and 2 ml of THF was added 60.0 mg (1.50 mmol, 1.50 ml) of NaOH (1.0 M aqueous solution). The solution was heated to 50° C. for 2 hours, cooled to room temperature, and acidified with 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc, followed by drying over Na₂SO₄, and removal of the solvents under reduced pressure afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (d6-acetone): δ 8.01 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.59 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.45 (2H, s), 7.20-7.17 (3H, m), 6.92-6.89 (2H, m), 5.97 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 2.35 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.34 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(5-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 30)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(5-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2-naphthalenyl]ethynylbenzoate (Compound 15) (100 mg, 0.23 mmol) and 4 ml of EtOH at room temperature was added aqueous NaOH (1 ml, 1 M, 1 mmol). The resulting solution was warmed to 50° C. for 1 hour and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was suspended in a solution of CH₂Cl₂ and ether (5:1) and acidified to pH 5 with 1M aqueous HCl. The layers were separated and the organic layer was washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and the solvents removed under reduced pressure to give the title compound as a white solid. 1H NMR (d6-DMSO): δ 7.96 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz), 7.95 (2H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 7.65 (2H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 7.64 (1H, s), 7.53 (1H, dd, J=1.7, 8.0 Hz), 7.46 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 6.59 (1H, t, J=4.5 Hz), 2.50 (3H, s), 2.39 (2H, d, J=4.5 Hz), 1.27 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-thiazolyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 30a)

A solution of 33.9 mg (0.08 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-thiazolyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 15a) and 8.5 mg (0.20 mmol) of LiOH—H₂O in 3 ml of THF/water (3:1, v/v), was stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction was quenched by the addition of sat aqueous NH₄Cl and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with water and brine, dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound as a colorless solid. PMR (d₆-DMSO): δ 1.29 (6H, s), 2.42 (2H, d, J=4.6 Hz), 6.68 (1H, t, J=4.6 Hz), 7.51 (2H, m), 7.62 (2H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.77 (1H, d, 13.3 Hz), 7.93 (2H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.98 (1H, d, J=3.3 Hz).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 31)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2-naphthalenyl]ethynylbenzoate (Compound 16) (145.0 mg, 0.34 mmol) and 4 ml of EtOH at room temperature was added aqueous NaOH (1 ml, 1 M, 1 mmol). The resulting solution was warmed to 50° C. for 1 hour and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was suspended in a solution of CH₂Cl₂ and ether (5:1) and acidified to pH 5 with 1M aqueous HCl. The layers were separated and the organic layer was washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and the solvents removed under reduced pressure to give the title compound as a white solid. 1H NMR (d6-DMSO): δ 7.94 (2H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.87 (1H, d J=1.6 Hz), 7.63 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.50 (1H, dd, J=1.6, 8.1 Hz), 7.45 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.27 (1H, s), 6.58 (1H, t, J=4.8 Hz), 2.43 (3H, s), 2.37 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 1.26 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 32)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-naphthalenyl]ethynylbenzoate (Compound 17) (58.0 mg, 0.13 mmol) and 4 ml of EtOH at room temperature was added aqueous NaOH (1 ml, 1 M, 1 mmol). The resulting solution was warmed to 50° C. for 1 hour and concentrated in vacuo. The residue was suspended in a solution of CH₂Cl₂ and ether (5:1) and acidified to pH 5 with 1M aqueous HCl. The layers were separated and the organic layer was washed with brine, dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered and the solvents removed under reduced pressure to give the title compound as a white solid. 1H NMR (d6-DMSO): δ 7.94 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.86 (1H, d, J=1.6 Hz), 7.61 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.50 (1H, dd, J=1.6, 8.0 Hz), 7.45 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 6.51 (1H, t, J=4.9 Hz), 2.37 (3H, s), 2.36 (2H, d, J=4.6 Hz), 2.32 (3H, s), 1.26 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(5-methyl-2-thienyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate acid (Compound 33)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 170.0 mg (0.366 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifuoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 202.0 mg (1.48 mmol) of zinc chloride, 24 mg (0.022 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 2.0 ml of THF, and 5-methyl-2-lithiothiophene (prepared by adding 58.6 mg (0.36 ml, 0.915 mmol) of n-butyllithium (2.5 M solution in hexanes) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 89.8 mg (0.915 mmol) of 2-methylthiophene in 2.0 ml of THF). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.00 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.59 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz), 7.55 (2H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.43 (1H, dd, J=1.7, 8.0 Hz), 7.35 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 6.87 (1H, d, J=3.5 Hz), 6.74 (1H, d, J=2.8 Hz), 6.15 (1H, t, J=4.8 Hz), 4.38 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.52 (3H, s), 2.32 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz). 1.40 (3H, t, 7.1 Hz), 1.32 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-thienyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate acid (Compound 33a)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 250.0 mg (0.52 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 186.8 mg (1.37 mmol) of zinc chloride 37.1 mg (0.03 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) and 2-lithiothiophene (prepared by the addition of 65.9 mg (0.69 ml, 1.03 mmol) of n-butyllithium (1.5M solution in hexane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 86.5 mg (1.03 mmol) of thiophene in 1.0 ml of THF). PMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.33 (6H, s), 1.36 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 2.38 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 4.34 (2H, q, J=7.2 Hz), 6.25 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 7.13 (2H, m), 7.47 (4H, m), 7.62 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 8.00 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(5-methyl-2-thienyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 34)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(5-methyl-2-thienyl)-2-naphthalenyl]ethynylbenzoate acid (Compound 33) (35.0 mg, 0.082 mmol) in 2 ml of EtOH and 1 ml THF at room temperature was added aqueous NaOH (1 ml, 1 M, 1 mmol). The resulting solution was stirred at room temperature overnight and then acidified with 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc, followed by drying over Na₂SO₄, and removal of the solvents under reduced pressure afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (d6-acetone): δ 8.03 (2H, d, J=8.6 Hz), 7.63 (2H, d, J=8.6 Hz), 7.5-7.48 (3H, m), 6.89 (1H, m), 6.18 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 2.49 (3H, s), 2.35 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.32 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-thienyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 34a)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-thiazolyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 30a), 70.0 mg (0.17 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-thienyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 33a) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 17.8 mg (0.42 mmol) of LiOH in H₂O. PMR (d₆-DMSO): δ 1.27 (6H, s), 2.33 (2H, d, J=4.9 Hz), 6.23 (1H, t, J=4.9 Hz), 7.14 (2H, m), 7.38-7.56 (4H, m), 7.61 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.92 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz).

5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (Compound K)

A solution of 3,4-dihydro-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-7-bromonaphthalene (Compound D) (250.0 mg, 0.764 mmol) in 2.0 ml of THF was cooled to −78° C. and 1.0 ml of t-butyllithium (1.68 mmol, 1.7 M solution in pentane) was added slowly. After stirring for 1 hour at −78° C. gaseous CO₂ (generated by evaporation of Dry-Ice, and passed through a drying tube) was bubbled through the reaction for 1 hour. The solution was then allowed to warm to room temperature and the reaction was quenched by the addition of 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc was followed by washing the combined organic layers with H₂O and saturated aqueous NaCl, and drying over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure and washing of the solid with hexanes afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.94 (1H, dd, J=1.8, 8.1 Hz), 7.76 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz), 7.45 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.24 (4H, m), 6.01 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 2.40 (3H, s), 2.36 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.35 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)carbonyl]amino]-benzoate (Compound 35)

A solution of 170.0 mg (0.58 mmol) 5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (Compound K) 115.0 mg (0.70 mmol) of ethyl 4-aminobenzoate, 145.0 mg (0.76 mmol) of 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride, and 92.4 mg (0.76 mmol) of 4-dimethylaminopyridine in 6.0 ml of DMF was stirred overnight at room temperature. Ethyl acetate was added and the resulting solution washed with H₂O, saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, and saturated aqueous NaCl, then dried over MgSO₄. After removal of the solvent under reduced pressure, the product was isolated as a colorless solid by column chromatography (10 to 15% EtOAc/hexanes). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.02 (2H, d, J=8.7 Hz), 7.72 (2H, m), 7.65 (1H, d, J=8.7 Hz), 7.52 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz), 7.48 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 7.25 (4H, m), 6.15 (1H, t, J=4.9 Hz), 4.36 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.40 (3H, s), 2.38 (2H, d, J=4.9 Hz), 1.39 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.37 (6H, s).

4-[[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)carbonyl]amino]-benzoic acid (Compound 36)

To a solution of 26.5 mg (0.06 mmol) ethyl 4[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)carbonyl]amino]-benzoate (Compound 35) in 3.0 ml EtOH and 4.0 ml of THF was added 240.1 mg NaOH (6.00 mmol, 3.0 ml of a 2M aqueous solution). After stirring at room temperature for 72 hours, the reaction was quenched by the addition of 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc, and drying of the organic layers over MgSO₄, provided a solid after removal of the solvent under reduced pressure. Crystallization from CH₃CN afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (d6-DMSO): δ 10.4 (1H, s), 7.91-7.81 (5H, m), 7.54 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.45 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz), 7.23 (4H, s), 6.04 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 2.35 (5H, s), 1.33 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methyl-phenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)carbonyl]oxy]-benzoate (Compound 37)

A solution of 25.0 mg (0.086 mmol) 5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (Compound K) 17.5 mg (0.103 mmol) of ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, 21.4 mg (0.112 mmol) of 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride, and 12.6 mg (0.103 mmol) of 4-dimethylaminopyridine in 2.0 ml of DMF was stirred overnight at room temperature. Ethyl acetate was added and the resulting solution washed with H₂O, saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, and saturated aqueous NaCl, before being dried over MgSO₄. After removal of the solvent under reduced pressure, the product was isolated by column chromatography as a pale-yellow solid (10% EtOAc/hexanes). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.08 (2H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 8.05 (1H, dd, J=1.8, 8.1 Hz), 7.89 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz), 7.50 (2H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.22 (5H, m), 6.05 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 4.37 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.39 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 2.38 (3H, s), 1.39 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.37 (6H, s).

2-Trimethylsilylethyl 4-[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)carbonyl]oxy]-benzoate (Compound 38)

A solution of 93.5 mg (0.320 mmol) 5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (Compound K) 76.0 mg (0.319 mmol) of 2-trimethylsilylethyl-4-hydroxybenzoate, 80.0 mg (0.417 mmol) of 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride, and 51.0 mg (0.417 mmol) of 4-dimethylaminopyridine in 4.0 ml of DMF was stirred overnight at room temperature. Ethyl acetate was added and the resulting solution washed with H₂O, saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, and saturated aqueous NaCl, before being dried over MgSO₄. After removal of the solvent under reduced pressure, the product was isolated as a colorless solid by column chromatography (5% EtOAc/hexanes). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.08 (2H, d, J=8.8 Hz), 8.05 (1H, dd, J=1.8, 8.1 Hz), 7.50 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.26-7.18 (6H, m), 6.05 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 4.42 (2H t, J=8.4 Hz), 2.40 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 2.39 (3H, s), 1.38 (6H, s), 0.09 (9H, s).

4-[[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)carbonyl]oxy]-benzoic acid (Compound 39)

A solution of 110.0 mg (0.213 mmol). 2-trimethylsilylethyl 4[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)carbonyl]oxy]-benzoate (Compound 38) and 167.3 mg of tetrabutylammonium flouride (0.640 mmol, 0.64 ml of a 1M solution in THF) in 2.0 ml THF was stirred at room temperature for 22 hours. Ethyl acetate was added and the resulting solution washed with H₂O and saturated aqueous NaCl then dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure and washing of the residual solid with EtOAc and CH₃CN afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (d6-acetone): δ 8.10 (2H, d, J=8.8 Hz), 8.06 (1H, dd, J=2.0, 8.1 Hz), 7.82 (1H, d, J=1.9 Hz), 7.64 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.35 (2H, d, J=8.6 Hz), 7.25 (4H, m), 6.08 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 2.42 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 2.35 (3H, s), 1.39 (6H, s).

Ethyl 2-fluoro-4-[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)carbonyl]amino]-benzoate (Compound 40)

A solution of 115.0 mg (0.41 mmol) 5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (Compound K) 89.0 mg (0.49 mmol) of ethyl 2-fluoro-4-aminobenzoate, 102.0 mg (0.53 mmol) of 1-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-3-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride, and 65.0 mg (0.53 mmol) of 4-dimethylaminopyridine in 5.0 ml of DMF was stirred at 50° C. for 1 hour and then overnight at room temperature. Ethyl acetate was added and the resulting solution washed with H₂O, saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, and saturated aqueous NaCl, before being dried over MgSO₄. After removal of the solvent under reduced pressure, the product was isolated as a colorless solid by column chromatography (20% EtOAc/hexanes). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.96 (1H, s), 7.89 (1H, t, J=8.4 Hz), 7.70 (2H, m), 7.52 (1H, d; J=1.9 Hz), 7.45 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.23 (5H, m), 6.04 (1H, t, J=4.8 Hz), 4.36 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.38 (3H, s), 2.35 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 1.39 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.36 (6H, s).

2-Fluoro-4-[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)carbonyl]amino]-benzoic acid (Compound 41)

To a solution of 41.6 mg (0.091 mmol) ethyl 2-fluoro-4-[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)carbonyl]amino]-benzoate (Compound 40) in 2.0 ml EtOH and 2.0 ml of THF was added 40.0 mg NaOH (1.00 mmol, 1.0 ml of a 1 M aqueous solution). After stirring at room temperature for overnight, the reaction was quenched by the addition of 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc, and drying of the organic layers over MgSO₄, provided a solid after removal of the solvent under reduced pressure. Crystallization from CH₃CN afforded the title compound as a pale-yellow solid. 1H NMR (d6-acetone): δ 9.84 (1H, s), 7.94-7.83 (3H, m), 7.64 (1H, dd, J=2.0 Hz), 7.53 (2H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.23 (4H, s), 6.04 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 2.38 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 2.36 (3H, s), 1.35 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)thiocarbonyl]amino]-benzoate (Compound 42)

A solution of 110.0 mg (0.25 mmol) ethyl 4-[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)carbonyl]amino]-benzoate (Compound 35) and 121.0 mg (0.30 mmol) of [2,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-dithia-2,4-diphosphetane-2,4-disulfide] (Lawesson's Reagent) in 12.0 ml of benzene was refluxed overnight. Upon cooling to room temperature, the mixture was filtered and the filtrate concentrated under reduced pressure. The title compound was isolated by column chromatography (10 to 25% EtOAc/hexanes) as a yellow solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.92 (1H, s), 8.06 (2H, t, J=8.5 Hz), 7.88-7.70 (3H, m), 7.42 (2H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.18 (4H, m), 6.03 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 4.37 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.38 (3H, s), 2,36 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.56 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.35 (6H, s).

4-[[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)thiocarbonyl]amino]-benzoic (Compound 43)

To a solution of 84.0 mg (0.184 mmol) ethyl 4[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)thiocarbonyl]amino]-benzoate (Compound 42) in 2.0 ml EtOH and 2.0 ml of THF was added 60.0 mg NaOH (1.50 mmol, 1.5 ml of a 1 M aqueous solution). After stirring at room temperature overnight, the reaction was quenched by the addition of 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc, and drying of the organic layers over MgSO₄, provided a solid after removal of the solvent under reduced pressure. Crystallization from CH₃CN afforded the title compound as a yellow solid. 1H NMR (d6-acetone): δ 10.96 (1H, s), 8.05 (4H, m), 7.72 (1H, dd, J=2.0, 8.0 Hz), 7.54 (1H, s), 7.46 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.20 (4H, m), 6.04 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 2.38 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 2.33 (3H, s), 1.35 (6H, s).

2-acetyl-6-bromonaphthalene (Compound L)

To a cold (10° C.) mixture of 44.0 g (0.212 mol) of 2-bromonaphthalene and 34.0 g (0.255 mol) of aluminum chloride in 400 ml of nitrobenzene was added 21.0 g (267 mmol) of acetyl chloride. The mechanically stirred reaction mixture was warmed to room temperature, and heated to 40° C. for 18 hours. After cooling to 0° C. in an ice bath, the reaction was quenched by the addition of 12M HCl (70 ml). The layers were separated and the organic phase was washed with water and dilute aqueous Na₂CO₃. Kugelrohr distillation, followed by recrystallization from 10% EtOAc-hexane yielded 23 g of the title compound as a tan solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.44 (1H, br s), 8.04-8.10 (2H, m), 7.85 (1H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.82 (1H, d, J=8.8 Hz), 7.64 (1H, d, J=8.8 Hz), 2.73 (3H, s).

6-bromo-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (Compound M)

To a solution of sodium hypochlorite (62 ml, 5.25% in water (w/w), 3.6 g, 48.18 mmol) and sodium hydroxide (6.4 g, 160.6 mmol) in 50 ml of water was added a solution of 2-acetyl-6-bromonaphthalene (Compound L) 4 g, (16.06 mmol) in 50 ml of 1,4-dioxane. The yellow solution was heated to 70° C. in an oil bath for 2 hours, cooled to ambient temperature, and extracted with ethyl ether (2×50 ml). The aqueous layers were diluted with NaHSO₃ solution (until KI indicator solution remained colorless) and then acidified (pH<2) with 1N sulfuric acid to give a white precipitate. The mixture was extracted with ethyl ether, and the combined organic phase washed with saturated aqueous NaCl, dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated to give 3.54 g (88%) of the title compound as a solid. 1H NMR (DMSO-d6): δ 8.63 (1H, br s), 8.32 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz), 8.10 (1H, d, J=8.8 Hz), 8.00-8.05 (2H, m), 7.74 (1H, dd, J=2.0, 8.8 Hz).

Ethyl 6-bromo-2-naphthalenecarboxylate (Compound N)

To a solution of 6-bromo-2-naphthalenecarboxylic acid (Compound M) 3.1 g, (12.43 mmol) in ethanol (30 ml, 23.55 g, 511.0 mmol) was added 18M sulfuric acid (2 ml). The solution was refluxed for 30 minutes, cooled to room temperature, and the reaction mixture partitioned between pentane (100 ml) and water (100 ml). The aqueous phase was extracted with pentane (100 ml) and the combined organic layers washed with saturated aqueous NaCl (100 ml), dried (MgSO₄), and concentrated to yield an off-white solid. Purification by flash chromatography (silica, 10% EtOAc-hexane) afforded the title compound as a white solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.58 (1H, br s), 8.10 (1H, dd, J=1.7, 9 Hz), 8.06 (1H, d, J=2 Hz), 7.83 (1H, d, J=9 Hz), 7.80 (1H, d, J=9 Hz), 7.62 (1H, dd, J=2,9 Hz).

Ethyl (E)-4-[2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-oxo-2-naphthalenyl)ethenyl]-benzoate (Compound O)

To a solution of 520.0 mg (2.00 mmol) of 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-bromo-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound B) and 510.0 mg (2.90 mmol) of ethyl 4-vinylbenzoate in 4.0 ml of triethylamine (degassed by sparging with argon for 25 minutes), was added 124.0 mg (0.40 mmol) of tris(2-methylphenyl) phosphine, followed by 44.0 mg (0.20 mmol) of palladium(II)acetate. The resulting solution was heated to 95° C. for 2.5 hours, cooled to room temperature and concentrated under reduced pressure. Purification by column chromatography (10% EtOAc/hexanes) afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.19 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz), 8.03 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.69 (1H, dd, J=2.0, 8.2 Hz), 7.57 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.45 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.20 (2H, s), 4.39 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.76 (2H, t, J=6.5 Hz), 2.04 (2H, t, J=6.5 Hz), 1.41(3H, t, J=7.1 Hz, and 6H, s).

Ethyl (E)-4-[2-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethenyl]-benzoate (Compound P)

To a cold (−78° C.) solution of 440.0 mg (2.40 mmol) of sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide in 10.0 ml of THF was added 700.0 mg (2.00 mmol) of ethyl (E)-4-[2-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-oxo-2-naphthalenyl)ethenyl]-benzoate (Compound O) as a solution in 25.0 ml of THF. After stirring at −78° C. for 1.5 hours, 960.0 mg (2.40 mmol) of 2[N,N-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)aminol-5-chloropyridine was added in one portion. After 30 minutes the solution was warmed to 0° C. and stirred for 3 hours. The reaction was quenched by the addition of saturated aqueous NH₄Cl, and extracted with EtOAc. The combined extracts were washed with 5% aqueous NaOH, dried (Na₂SO₄), and the solvents removed under reduced pressure. The title compound was isolated as a colorless solid by column chromatography (7% EtOAc/hexanes). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.04 (1H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.57 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.52 (1H, s), 7.49 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 7.33 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 7.20 (1H, d, J=16.4 Hz), 7.10 (1H, d, J=16.4 Hz), 6.00 (1H, t, J=4.9 Hz), 4.39 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.43 (2H, d, J=4.9 Hz), 1.41 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.32 (6H, s).

Ethyl(E)-4-[2-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethenyl]-benzoate (Compound 44)

A solution of 4-lithiotoluene was prepared at −78° C. by the addition of 130.7 mg of t-butyllithium (2.04 mmol; 1.20 ml of a 1.7M solution in pentane) to a solution of 374.5 mg (2.20 mmol) of 4-bromotoluene in 2.5 ml of THF. After 30 minutes a solution of 313.4 mg (2.30 mmol) of ZnCl₂ in 2.0 ml of THF was added. The resulting solution was warmed to room temperature, stirred for 1.25 hour and then added via canula to a solution of 285.0 mg (0.590 mmol) of ethyl (E)-4-[2-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethenyl]-benzoate (Compound P) and 29.0 mg (0.025 mol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 2.0 ml of THF. The resulting solution was stirred at room temperature for 1 hour and then at 55° C. for 2 hours. Upon cooling to room temperature the reaction was quenched by the addition of saturated aqueous NH₄Cl. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc, and the combined extracts were washed with 5% aqueous NaOH, saturated aqueous NaCl, and dried over Na₂SO₄ before being concentrated under reduced pressure. The title compound was isolated by column chromatography (10% EtOAC/hexanes) as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.96 (2H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.47 (2H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.43-7.16 (7H, m), 7.07 (1H, d, J=16.3 Hz), 6.93 (1H, d, J=16.3 Hz), 5.97 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 4.39 (2H, q, J=7.0 Hz), 2.41 (3H, s), 233 (1H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.38 (3H, t, J=7.0 Hz), 1.33 (6H, s).

(E)-4-[2-(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethenyl]-benzoic acid Compound 45)

To a solution of 65.0 mg (0.190 mmol) of ethyl (E)-4-[2-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethenyl]-benzoate (Compound 44) in 4.0 ml of THF was added 30.0 mg of LiOH (0.909 mmol, 1.0 ml of a 1.1M solution) and 1.0 ml of MeOH. The solution was heated to 55° C. for 3 hours, cooled to room temperature, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in H₂O and extracted with hexanes. The aqueous layer was acidified to pH 1 with 10% HCl, and extracted with Et₂O. The combined organic layers were washed with saturated aqueous NaCl, diluted with EtOAc to give a clear solution, and dried over Na₂SO₄. The solvents were removed under reduced pressure to give the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (d6-DMSO): δ 7.86 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.66 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.58 (1H, dd, J=1.7, 8.1 Hz), 7.41 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.28 (1H, d, J=16.5 Hz), 7.23 (4H, s), 7.08 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz), 7.07 (1H, d, J=16.5 Hz), 5.97 (1H, t, J=4.6 Hz), 2.35 (3H, s), 2.31 (1H, d, J=4.6 Hz), 1.29 (6H, s).

Ethyl(E)-4-[2-(1,1-dimethyl-3-(4-methylphenyl)-5-indenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 47)

A solution of 32.0 mg (0.187 mmol) of 4-bromotoluene in 1.0 ml THF was cooled to −7° C. and 24.0 mg of t-butyllithium (0.375 mmol, 0.22 ml of a 1.7 M solution in pentane) was slowly added. The yellow solution was stirred for 30 minutes at which time 29.8 mg (0.219 mmol) of ZnCl₂ was added as a solution in 1.0 ml THF. The resulting solution was warmed to room temperature and after 30 minutes added to a second flask containing 29.0 mg (0.062 mmol) of ethyl 4-[2-(1,1-dimethyl-3-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-5-indenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound FF) and 2.9 mg (0.003 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0) in 1.0 ml THF. The resulting solution was warmed to 50° C. for 1 hour and then stirred at room temperature for 4 hours. The reaction was quenched by the addition of saturated aqueous NH₄Cl, and then extracted with Et₂O. The combined organic layers were washed with water, saturated aqueous NaCl, and dried over MgSO₄ before being concentrated under reduced pressure. The title compound was isolated as a colorless oil by column chromatography (10% Et₂O/hexanes). 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 8.03 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.66 (1H, s), 7.58 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.50 (2H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 7.46 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz), 7.38 (1H, d, J=7.7 Hz), 7.28 (2H, d, J=9 Hz), 6.43 (1H, s), 4.40 (2H, q, J=7.2 Hz), 2.43 (3H, s), 1.41 (3H, t; +6H, s).

4-[2-(1,1-dimethyl-3-(4-methylphenyl)-5-indenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 48)

To a solution of 10.0 mg (0.025 mmol) of ethyl 4-[2-(1,1-dimethyl-3-(4-methylphenyl)-5-indenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 47) in 0.5 ml THF/H₂O (3:1 v/v) was added 5.2 mg (0.12 mmol) LiOH H₂O. After stirring at room temperature for 48 hours the solution was extracted with hexanes and the aqueous layer was acidified with saturated aqueous NH₄Cl. Solid NaCl was added and the resulting mixture extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were dried (Na₂SO₄) and concentrated under reduced pressure to give the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (300 MHz, d₆-DMSO): δ 7.95 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.65 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.57 (2H, m), 7.49 (3H, m), 7.30 (2H, d, J=7.9 Hz), 6.61 (1H, s), 2.36 (3H, s), 1.36 (6H, s).

3-(4-bromothiophenoxy)propionic acid

To a solution of 1.44 g (35.7 mmol) of NaOH in 20.0 ml degassed H₂O (sparged with argon) was added 6.79 g (35.7 mmol) of 4-bromothiophenol. The resulting mixture was stirred at room temperature for 30 minutes. A second flask was charged with 2.26 g (16.3 mmol) of K₂CO₃ and 15 ml of degassed H₂O. To this solution was added (in portions) 5.00 g (32.7 mmol) of 3-bromopropionic acid. The resulting potassium carboxylate solution was added to the sodium thiolate solution, and the resulting mixture stirred at room temperature for 48 hours. The mixture was filtered and the filtrate extracted with benzene, and the combined organic layers were discarded. The aqueous layer was acidified with 10% HCl and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with saturated aqueous NaCl, dried over MgSO₄ and concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting solid was recrystallized from Et₂O-hexanes to give the title compound as off-white crystals. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.43 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.25 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 3.15 (2H, t, J=7.3 Hz), 2.68 (2H, t, J=7.3 Hz).

2.3-dihydro-6-bromo-(4H)-1-benzothiopyran-4-one

A solution of 3.63 g (13.9 mmol) of 3-(4-bromothiophenoxy)propionic acid in 60 ml methanesulfonic acid was heated to 75° C. for 1.5 hours. After cooling to room temperature the solution was diluted with H₂O and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with 2N aqueous NaOH, H₂O, and saturated aqueous NaCl and then dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvent under reduced pressure afforded a yellow solid from which the product was isolated by column chromatography (3% EtOAc-hexanes) as a pale-yellow solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.22 (1H, d, J=2.1 Hz), 7.48 H, dd, J=2.1, 8.3 Hz), 7.17 (1H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 3.24 (2H, t, J=6.4 Hz), 2.98 (2H, t, J=6.7 Hz).

2.3-dihydro-6-(2-trimethylsilylethynyl)-(4H)-1-benzothiopyran-4-one

A solution of 1.00 g (4.11 mmol) 2,3-dihydro-6-bromo-(4H)-1-benzothiopyran-4-one and 78.3 mg (0.41 mmol) CuI in 15.0 ml THF and 6.0 ml Et₂NH was sparged with argon for 5 minutes. To this solution was added 2.0 ml (1.39 g, 14.2 mmol) of (trimethylsilyl)acetylene followed by 288.5 mg (0.41 mmol) of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride. The resulting dark solution was stirred at room temperature for 3 days and then filtered through a pad of Celite, which was washed with EtOAc. The filtrate was washed with H₂O and saturated aqueous NaCl before being dried over MgSO₄. The title compound was isolated as an orange oil by column chromatography (4% EtOAc-hexanes). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.13 (1H, d, J=1.9 Hz), 7.36 (1H, dd, J=2.1, 8.2 Hz), 7.14 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 3.19 (2H, d, J=6.3 Hz), 2.91 (2H, d, J=6.3 Hz), 0.21 (9H, s).

2.3-dihydro-6-ethynyl-(4H)-1-benzothiopyran-4-one

A solution containing 600.0 mg (2.25 mmol) of 2,3-dihydro-6-2-trimethylsilylethynyl)-(4H)-1-benzothiopyran-4-one and 100.0 mg (0.72 mmol) K₂CO₃ in 15 ml MeOH was stirred at room temperature for 20 hours. The solution was diluted with H₂O and extracted with Et₂O. The combined organic layers were washed with H₂O and saturated aqueous NaCl before being dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduce pressure afforded the title compound as an orange solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.17 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz), 7.40. (1H, dd, J=1.8, 8.2 Hz), 7.19 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 3.22 (2H, t, J=6.3 Hz), 3.08 (1H, s) 2.94 (2H, t, J=6.3 Hz).

Ethyl 4-[2-(6-(2,3-dihydro-(4H)-1-benzothiopyran-4-onyl)ethynyl]benzoate

A solution of 405.0 mg (2.15 mmol) 2,3-dihydro-6-ethynyl-(4H)-1-benzothiopyran-4-one and 594.0 mg (2.15 mmol) of ethyl 4-iodobenzoate in 15 ml Et₃N and 3 ml THF was sparged with argon for 15 minutes. To this solution was added 503.0 mg (0.72 mmol) of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride and 137.0 mg (0.72 mmol) CuI. This solution was stirred for 20 hours at room temperature and then filtered through a pad of Celite, which was washed with EtOAc. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure afforded a brown solid. Column chromatography (3% EtOAc-hexanes) afforded the title compound as an orange solid. 1H NMR (d₆-acetone): δ 8.15 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz), 8.02 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.69 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.61 (1H, dd, J=2.1, 8.3 Hz), 7.40 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 4.35 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 3.40 (2H, t, J=6.3 Hz), 2.96 (2H, t, J=6.3 Hz), 1.37 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz).

Ethyl 4-[2-(6-(4-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-(2H)-1-benzothiopyranyl))ethynyl]benzoate

To a solution of 221.9 mg (1.21 mmol) of sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide in 3.0 ml THF cooled to −78° C. was added 370.0 mg (1.10 mmol) of ethyl 4-[2-(6-(2,3-dihydro-(4H)-1-benzothiopyran-4-onyl))ethynyl]benzoate in 4.0 ml THF. After 30 minutes, a solution of 2-[N,N-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amino]-5-chloropyridine in 4.0 ml THF was slowly added. The reaction was slowly warmed to room temperature and after 5 hours quenched by the addition of saturated aqueous NH₄Cl. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc, and the combined organic layers were washed with 5% aqueous NaOH, H₂O, and saturated aqueous NaCl before being dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure, followed by column chromatography (4% EtOAc-hexanes) afforded the title compound as a pale-yellow solid. 1H NMR (d₆-acetone): δ 8.12 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.66 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.56 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz), 7.49 (1H, dd, J=1.7, 8.1 Hz), 7.40 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 6.33 (1H, t, J=5.7 Hz), 4.35 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 3.82 (2H, d, J=5.7 Hz), 1.37 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz).

Ethyl 4-[2-(6-(4-(4-methylphenyl)-(2H)-1-benzothiopyranyl))ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 49)

To a solution of 120.8 mg (0.70 mmol) of 4-bromotoluene in 2.0 ml THF at −78° C. was added 88.4 mg (1.38 mmol, 0.81 ml of a 1.7 M solution in pentane) of t-butyllithium. After 30 minutes a solution of 131.6 mg (0.97 mmol) ZnCl₂ in 2.0 ml THF was added and the reulting pale-yellow solution warmed to room temperature. Stirring for 40 minutes was followed by addition of this solution to a second flask containing 129.2 mg (0.28 mmol) of ethyl 4-[2-(6-(4-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-(2H)-1-benzothiopyranyl))ethynyl]benzoate, 14.0 mg (0.012 mmol) tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium (0), and 2.0 ml THF. The resulting solution was heated to 50° C. for 5 hours, cooled to room temperature, and quenched by the addition of saturated aqueous NH₄Cl. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc, and the combined organic layers were washed with H₂O and saturated aqueous NaCl, then dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated to an orange oil. The title compound was isolated as a colorless solid by column chromatography (3 to 5% EtOAc-hexanes). 1H NMR (d₆-acetone): δ 7.98 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.58 (2H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.44-7.38 (2H, m), 7.26-7.15 (5H, m), 6.14 (1H, t, J=5.8 Hz), 4.34 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 3.53 (2H, d, J=5.8 Hz), 2.37 (2H, s), 1.35 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz).

4-[2-(6-(4-(4-methylphenyl)-(2H)-1-benzothiopyranyl))ethynyl]-benzoic acid (Compound 50)

To a solution of 29.0 mg (0.07 mmol) ethyl 4-[2-(6-(4-(4-methylphenyl)-(2H)-1-benzothiopyranyl))ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 49) in 2.0 ml THF and 2.0 ml EtOH was added 160.0 mg (4.00 mmol, 2.0 ml of a 2 M aqueous solution). The resulting solution was stirred at 35° C. for 2 hours, and then cooled to room temperature and stirred an additional 2 hours. The reaction was quenched by the addition of 10% aqueous HCl and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with H₂O and saturated aqueous NaCl, and dried over Na₂SO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure afforded a solid which was washed with CH₃CN and dried under high vacuum to give the title compound as a pale-yellow solid. 1 NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ 7.90 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.59 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.40 (4H, m), 7.25-7.13 (4H, m), 7.02 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz), 6.11 (1H, t, J=5.7 Hz), 3.54 (2H, d, J=5.7 Hz), 2.34 (3H, s).

3,4-Dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-acetyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound R); and 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-6-acetyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound S)

To a cold (0° C.) mixture of aluminum chloride (26.3 g, 199.0 mmols) in dichloromethane (55 ml) was added acetylchloride (15 g, 192 mmols) and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,1-dimethylnaphthalene (24.4 g, 152 mmols) in dichloromethane (20 ml) over 20 minutes. The reaction mixture was warmed to ambient temperature and stirred for 4 hours. Ice (200 g) was added to the reaction flask and the mixture diluted with ether (400 ml). The layers were separated and the organic phase washed with 10% HCl (50 ml), water (50 ml), 10% aqueous sodium bicarbonate, and saturated aqueous NaCl (50 ml) before being dried over MgSO₄. The solvent was removed by distillation to afford a yellow oil which was dissolved in benzene (50 ml).

To a cold (0° C.) solution of acetic acid (240 ml) and acetic anhydride (120 ml) was added chromiumtrioxide (50 g, 503 mmols) in small portions over 20 minutes under argon. The mixture was stirred for 30 mins at 0° C. and diluted with benzene (120 ml). The benzene solution prepared above was added with stirring via an addition funnel over 20 minutes. After 8 hours, the reaction was quenched by careful addition of isopropanol (50 ml) at 0° C., followed by water (100 ml). After 15 minutes, the reaction mixture was diluted with ether (1100 ml) and water (200 ml), and then neutralized with solid sodium bicarbonate (200 g). The ether layer was washed with water (100 ml), and saturated aqueous NaCl (2×100 ml), and dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvent under reduced pressure afforded a mixture of the isomeric diketones which were separated by chromatography (5% EtOAc/hexanes). (Compound R): 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.55 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz), 8.13 (1H, dd, J=2.0, 8.3 Hz), 7.53 (1H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 2.77 (2H, t, J=6.6 Hz), 2.62 (3H, s), 2.05 (2H, t, J=6.6 Hz), 1.41 (6H, s). (Compound S): 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.10 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 8.02 (1H, d, J=1.6 Hz), 7.82 (1H, dd, J=1.6, 8.1 Hz), 2.77 (2H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 2.64 (3H, s), 2.05 (2H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.44 (6H, s).

3,4-Dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-(2-(2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanyl)-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound T)

A mixture of 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-acetyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound R) (140.0 mg, 0.60 mmol), ethylene glycol (55.0 mg, 0.90 mmol), p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (4 mg) and benzene (25 ml) was refluxed using a Dean-Stark apparatus for 12 hours. The reaction was quenched by the addition of 10% aqueous sodium bicarbonate, and extracted with ether (2×75 ml). The combined organic layers were washed with water (5 ml), and saturated aqueous NaCl (5 ml), and dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvent under reduced pressure afforded the title compound as an oil. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.13 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz), 7.64 (1H, dd, J=2.0, 8.2 Hz), 7.40 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 3.97-4.10 (2H, m), 3.70-3.83 (2H, m), 2.73 (2H, t, J=6.5 Hz), 2.01 (2H, t, J=6.5 Hz), 1.64 (3H, s), 1.39 (6H, s).

1,2,3,4-Tetrahydro-1-hydroxy-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-7-(2-(2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanyl))naphthalene (Compound U)

To a solution of 195.4 mg (1.00 mmol) p-tolulylmagnesiumbromide (1.0 ml; 1M. solution in ether) in 2 ml THF was added a solution of 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-(2-(2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanyl))-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound T) 135.0 mg, 0.52 mmol) in 5 ml THF. The solution was refluxed for 16 hours, cooled to room temperature, and diluted with ether (50 ml). The solution was washed with water (5 ml), saturated aqueous NH₄Cl (5 ml), and dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure and column chromatography (5% EtOAc/hexanes) afforded the title compound as a solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.37 (2H, d), 7.21 (1H, s), 7.13 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.08 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 3.88-3.99 (2H, m), 3.58-3.75 (2H, m), 234 (3H, s), 2.12-2.30 (2H, m), 1.79-1.90 (1H, m), 1.57 (3H, s), 1.48-1.58 (1H, m), 1.38 (3H, s), 1.31 (3H, s).

3,4-Dihydro-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-7-acetylnaphthalene (Compound V)

A mixture of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-hydroxy-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-7-(2-(2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanyl))naphthalene (Compound U) 130.0 mg (0.38 mmol), p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (4 mg) and benzene (5 ml) was refluxed for 16 hours Upon cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was diluted with ether (100 ml) and washed with 10% aqueous sodium bicarbonate, water, and saturated aqueous NaCl. The organic layer was dried over MgSO₄ and the solvents were removed under reduced pressure to give the title compound as a solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.83 (1H, dd, J=1.8,8.0 Hz), 7.66 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz), 7.45 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 7.25 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.22 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 6.03 (1H, t, J=63 Hz), 2.47 (3H, s), 2.41 (3H, s), 2.37 (2H, d, J=6.3 Hz), 1.36 (6H, s).

(E)-3-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)-2-butenenitrile (Compound W)

To a slurry of NaH (48.0 mg, 2.00 mmol) in THF (6 ml), was added diethylcyanomethylphosphonate (450.0 mg, 2.50 mmol). After 40 mins, a solution of 3,4-dihydro-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-7-acetylnaphthalene (Compound V) 95.0 mg, (0.33 mmol) in THF (4 ml) was added. The mixture was stirred for 16 hours, diluted with ether (100 ml), and washed with water, and saturated aqueous NaCl before being dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure, and column chromatography (3% EtOAc/hexanes) afforded the title compound as a solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.39 (1H, d, J=1H), 7.32 (1H, dd, J=2.0, 8.1 Hz), 7.20-7.25 (4H, brs), 7.15 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz), 6.03 (1H, t, J=6.0 Hz), 5.44 (1H, s), 2.42 (3H, s), 2.36 (2H, d, J=6.0 Hz), 2.35 (3H, s), 1.35 (6H, s).

(E)-3-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)-2-butenal (Compound X)

To a cold solution (−78° C.) of (E)-3-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)-2-butenenitrile (Compound W) 84.0 mg, 0.29 mmol) in dichloromethane (4 ml) was added 0.50 ml (0.50 mmol) of diisobutylaluminumhydride (1M solution in dichloromethane). After stirring for 1 hour, the reaction was quenched at −78° C. by adding 2-propanol (1 ml) diluted with ether (100 ml). Upon warming to room temperature, the solution was washed with water, 10% HCl, and saturated aqueous NaCl. The organic layer was dried over MgSO₄ and the solvent removed under reduced pressure to give the title compound as an oil. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 10.12 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz), 7.43 (2H, s), 7.19-7.28 (5H, m), 6.27 (1H, d, J=7.9 Hz), 6.03 (1H, t, J=4.8 Hz), 2.47 (3H, s), 2.42 (3H, s), 2.37 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 137 (6H, s).

Ethyl (E,E,E)-3-methyl-7-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)-2,4,6-octatrienoate (Compound 51)

To a cold (−78° C.) solution of diethyl-(E)-3-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methylallylphosphonate [prepared in accordance with J. Org. Chem. 39: 821 (1974)] 264.0 mg, (1.00 mmol) in THF (2 ml) was added 26.0 mg (0.41 mmol, 0.65 ml) of n-butyllithium in hexanes (1.6 M solution) followed immediately by the addition of (E)-3-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalen-yl)-2-butenal (Compound X) 82.0 mg, 0.26 mmol) in THF (3 ml). After 1 hour, the reaction mixture was diluted with ether (60 ml), washed with water (5 ml), saturated aqueous NaCl (5 ml) and dried over MgSO₄. After removal of the solvents under reduced pressure, the title compound was isolated as an oil by column chromatography (5% EtOAc/hexanes, followed by HPLC using 1% EtOAc/hexanes). 1H NMR (acetone-d6): δ 7.36-7.43 (2H, m), 7.18-7.27 (4H, m), 7.17 (1 H, d, J=1.7 Hz), 7.08 (1H, dd, J=11.2, 15.2 Hz), 6.46 (1H, d, J=11.2 Hz), 6.38 (1H, d, J=15.2 Hz), 5.98 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 5.78 (1H, s), 4.10 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.35 (3H, s), 2.33 (3H, s), 2.32 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 2.12 (3H, s), 1.31 (6H, s), 1.22 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz).

(E,E,E)-3-methyl-7-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)-2,4,6-octatrienoic acid (Compound 52)

To a solution of ethyl (E,E,E)-3-methyl-7-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)-2,4,6-octatrienoate (Compound 51) 85.0 mg, 0.20 mmol) in THF (1 ml) and methanol (1 ml) was added 12.0 mg (0.50 mmol) of LiOH (0.5 ml, 1M solution). The mixture was stirred for 6 hours, diluted with ether (60 ml), acidified with 10% HCl (1 ml). The solution was washed with water, and saturated aqueous NaCl, before being dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure afforded the title compound as a solid, which was purified by recrystallization from acetone. 1H NMR (acetone-d6): δ 7.35-745 (2H, m), 7.19-7.28 (4H, m), 7.17 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz), 7.09 (1H, dd, J=11.5, 15.1 Hz), 6.48 (1H, d, J=11.5 Hz), 6.42 (1H, d, J=15.1 Hz), 5.99 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz),5.82 (1H, s), 2.36 (3H, s), 2.33 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 2.32 (3H, s), 2.13 (3H, s), 1.32 (6H, s).

3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-nitro-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound Y)

To 1.7 ml (3.0 g, 30.6 mmol, 18M) H₂SO₄ at −5° C. (ice-NaCl bath) was slowly added 783.0 mg (4.49 mmol) of 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone. A solution of 426.7 mg (6.88 mmol, 0.43 ml, 16M) HNO₃, and 1.31 g (0.013 mol, 0.74 ml, 18 M) H₂SO₄ was slowly added. After 20 minutes, ice was added and the resulting mixture extracted with EtOAc. The combined extracts were concentrated under reduced pressure to give a residue from which the title compound, a pale yellow solid, was isolated by column chromatography (10% EtOAC/hexanes). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.83 (1H, d, J=2.6 Hz), 8.31 (1H, dd, J=2.8, 8.9 Hz), 7.62 (1H, d, J=8.7 Hz), 2.81 (2H, t, J=6.5 Hz), 2.08 (2H, t, J=6.5 Hz), 1.45 (6H, s).

3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-amino-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound Z)

A solution of 230.0 mg (1.05 mmol) 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-nitro-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound Y) in 5.0 ml of EtOAc was stirred at room temperature with a catalytic amount of 10% Pd—C under 1 atm of H₂ for 24 hours. The catalyst was removed by filtration through a pad of Celite, and the filtrate concentrated under reduced pressure to give the title compound as a dark green oil. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.30 (1H, d, J=2.7 Hz), 7.22 (1H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 6.88 (1H, dd, J=2.7, 8.5 Hz), 2.70 (2H, t, J=6.6 Hz), 1.97 (2H, t, J=6.6 HZ), 1.34 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-oxo-2-naphthalenyl)azo]-benzoate (Compound AA)

To a solution of 198.7 mg (1.05 mmol) 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-amino-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound Z) in 5.0 ml glacial acetic acid was added 180.0 mg (1.00 mmol) of ethyl 4-nitrosobenzoate. The resulting solution was stirred overnight at room temperature, and then concentrated under reduced pressure. The product was isolated from the residual oil as a red solid, by column chromatography (15% EtOAc-hexanes). 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.57 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz), 8.19 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 8.07 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 7.94 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.58 (1H, d, J=8.6 Hz), 4.41 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.79 (2H, t, J=6.6 Hz), 2.07 (2H, t, J=7.02 Hz), 1.44 (6H, s), 1.42 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)azo]-benzoate (Compound BB)

To a solution of 90.4 mg sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (0.48 mmol, 0.48 ml of a 1.0 M THF solution) in 2.0 ml THF at −78° C., was added 153.0 mg (0.437 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-oxo-2-naphthalenyl)azo]-benzoate (Compound AA) in 2.0 ml THF. The dark red solution was stirred at −78° C. for 30 minutes and then 204.0 mg (0.520 mmol) of 2-[N,N-bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amino]-5-chloropyridine was added as a solution in 2.0 ml THF. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and after 3 hours it was quenched by the addition of H₂O. The organic layer was concentrated to a red oil under reduced pressure. The product was isolated by column chromatography (25% EtOAc/hexanes) as a red oil. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.21 (2H, d, J=8.6 Hz), 7.96 (2H, d, J=8.6 Hz), 7.94 (2H, m), 7.49 (1H, d, J=2 Hz), 6.08 (1H, t, J=2.5 Hz), 4.42 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.49 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 1.44 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.38 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)azo]-benzoate (Compound 46a)

A solution of 4-lithiotoluene was prepared by the addition of 62.9 mg (0.58 ml 0.98 mmol) of t-butyl lithium (1.7 M solution in pentane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 84.0 mg (0.491 mmol) of 4-bromotoluene in 1.0 ml of THF. After stirring for 30 minutes a solution of 107.0 mg (0.785 mmol) of zinc chloride in 2.0 ml of THF was added. The resulting solution was warmed to room temperature, stirred for 30 minutes, and added via cannula to a solution of 94.7 mg (0.196 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)azo]-benzoate (Compound BB) and 25 mg (0.02 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) in 2.0 ml of THF. The resulting solution was heated at 50° C. for 1.5 hours, cooled to room temperature and diluted with sat. aqueous NH₄Cl. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (40 ml) and the combined organic layers were washed with water and brine. The organic phase was dried over Na₂SO₄, concentrated in vacuo, and the title compound isolated as a red solid by column chromatography (25% EtOAc-hexanes) 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.21 (2H, d, J=8.6 Hz), 7.96 (2H, d, J=8.6 Hz), 7.94 (2H, m), 7.49 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 6.08 (1H, t, J=2.5 Hz), 4.42 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.49 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 1.44 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.38 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)azo]-benzoic acid (Compound 46)

To a solution of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)azo]-benzoate (Compound 46a) 16.5 mg, 0.042 mmol) in THF (2 ml) and ethanol (1 ml) was added 80.0 mg (2.00 mmol) of NaOH (2.0 ml, 1M aqueous solution. The mixture was stirred for 12 hours at room temperature, acidified with 10% HCl, and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with water, and saturated aqueous NaCl, then dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure, and recrystallization of the residue from EtOAC/hexane, afforded the title compound as a red solid. 1H NMR (acetone-d6): δ 8.19 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.92 (2H, d, J=8.5 hz), 7.88 (2H, dd, J=2.1, 6.1 Hz), 7.66 (1H, s), 7.64 (2H, d, J=2.3 Hz), 7.28 (4H, d, J=3.0 Hz), 6.09 (1H, t, J=2.5 Hz), 2.42 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 2.39 (3H, s), 1.40 (6H, s).

6-(2-Trimethylsilyl)ethynyl-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-1H-inden-1-one (Compound CC)

To a solution of 815.0 mg (3.41 mmol) 6-bromo-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-1H-inden-1-one (See Smith et al. Org. Prep. Proced. Int. 1978 10 123-131) in 100 ml of degassed Et₃N (sparged with argon for 20 min) was added 259.6 mg (1.363 mmol) of copper(I) iodide, 956.9 m g (1.363 mmol) of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II)chloride, and 3.14 g (34.08 mmol) of (trimethylsilyl)acetylene. This mixture was heated at 70° C. for 42 hours, cooled to room temperature, and filtered through a pad of silica gel and washed with ether. The filtrate was washed with water, 1 M HCl, water, and finally with saturated aqueous NaCl before being dried over MgSO₄. Concentration of the solution under reduced pressure, followed by column chromatography (silica gel; 10% Et₂O-hexanes) afforded the title compound as a brown oil. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃): δ 7.79(1 H, d, J=1.4 Hz), 7.69 (1H, dd, J=1.6, 8.3 Hz), 7.42 (1H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 2.60 (2H, s), 1.41 (6H, s), 0.26 (9H, s).

6-Ethynyl-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-1H-inden-1-one (Compound DD)

To a solution of 875.0 mg (3.41 mmol) 6-(2-trimethylsilyl)ethynyl-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-1H-inden-1-one (Compound CC) in 28 ml of MeOH, was added 197.3 mg (1.43-mmol) of K₂CO₃ in one portion. After stirring for 6 hours at room temperature the mixture was filtered, through a pad of Celite and the filtrate concentrated under reduced pressure. The residual oil was placed on a silica gel column and eluted with 5% EtOAc-hexanes to give the title product as a colorless oil. 1H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl3): δ 7.82 (1H, s), 7.72 (1H, dd, J=1.6, 7.8 Hz), 7.47 (1H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 3.11 (1H, s), 2.61 (2H, s), 1.43 (6H, s).

Ethyl 4-[2-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-indenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound EE)

A solution of 280.0 mg (1.520 mmol) 6-ethynyl-2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-1H-inden-1-one (Compound DD) and 419.6 mg (1.520 mmol) ethyl 4-iodobenzoate in 5 ml Et₃N was sparged with argon for 40 minutes. To this solution was added 271.0 mg (1.033 mmol) of triphenylphosphine, 53.5 mg (0.281 mmol) of copper(I) iodide, and 53.5 mg (0.076 mmol) of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride. The resulting mixture was heated to reflux for 2:5 hours, cooled to room temperature, and diluted with Et₂O. After filtration through a pad of Celite, the filtrate was washed with H₂O, 1 M HCl, H₂O, and saturated aqueous NaCl, then dried over MgSO₄, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The title compound was isolated as a pale-yellow solid by column chromatography (15% EtOAc-hexanes). 1H NMR (300 MHz, d6-acetone): δ 8.05 (2H, d, J=8.6 Hz), 7.87 (1H, dd, J=1.4, 8.1 Hz), 7.75 (2H, m), 7.70 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 4.36 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.60 (2H, s), 1.45 (6H, s), 1.37 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz).

Ethyl 4-[2-(1,1-dimethyl-3-(trifluoromethyl-sulfonyl)oxy-5-indenyl)ethynyl]benzoate Compound FF)

A solution of 88.0 mg (0.48 mmol) of sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide in 0.5 ml THF was cooled to −78° C. and 145.0 mg (0.436 mmol) of ethyl 4-[2-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-7-oxo-2-indenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound EE) was added as a solution in 1.0 ml THF. After 30 minutes 181.7 mg (0.480 mmol) of 2-(N,N-bis(trifluoromethansulfonyl)amino)-5-chloro-pyridine was added as a solution in 1.0 ml THF. The reaction was allowed to slowly warm to room temperature and quenched after 5 hours by the addition of saturated aqueous NH₄Cl. The mixture was extracted with EtOAc, and the combined organic layers washed with 5% aqueous NaOH, H₂O, and saturated aqueous NaCl, then dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated under reduced pressure. The product was isolated as a colorless solid by column chromatography (10% Et₂O-hexanes). 1H NMR (300 MHz, acetone): δ 8.05 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.69 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.63 (2H, s), 7.55 (1H, s), 4.36 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 1.44 (6H, s), 1.37 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz).

4[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 60)

A solution of 142.6 mg (0.339 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1) and 35.6 mg (0.848 mmol) of LiOH—H₂O in 12 ml of THF/water (4:1, v/v), was stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was extracted with hexanes, and the hexane fraction extracted with 5% aqueous NaOH. The aqueous layers were combined and acidified with 1M HCl, and then extracted with EtOAc and Et₂O. The combined organic layers were dried over Na₂SO₄ and concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ 7.91 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.60 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.47 (2H, s), 7.23 (4H, q, J=8.1 Hz), 7.01 (1H, s), 6.01 (1H, t, J=4.6 Hz), 2.35 (3H, s), 2.33 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 1.30 (6H, s).

4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-phenyl-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 60a)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-thiazolyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 30a), 27.0 mg (0.07 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-phenyl-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1a) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 5.9 mg (0.14 mmol) of LiOH in H₂O. PMR (d₆-DMSO): δ 1.31 (6H, s), 2.35 (2H, d, J=4.5 Hz), 6.05 (1H, t, J=J=J=4.5 Hz), 7.00 (1H, s), 7.33 (2H, d, J=6.2 Hz), 7.44 (4H, m), 7.59 (2H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.90 (2H, d, J=8.1 Hz).

4-[(5,6-Dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 61)

A solution of 80.0 mg (0.173 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 6) and 18.1 mg (0.432 mmol) of LiOH—H₂O in 6 ml of THF/water (3:1, v/v), was stirred overnight at room temperature. The reaction mixture was extracted with hexanes, and the remaining aqueous layer acidified with 1M HCl, and then extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers Were dried over Na₂O₄ and concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (d₆-DMSO): δ 7.82 (2H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.44 (6H, m), 7.25 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.02 (1H, s), 6.01 (1H, t, J=4.6 Hz), 2.32 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.32 (9H, s), 1.29 (6H, s).

Ethyl 2-fluoro-4-[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)thiocarbonyl]amino]-benzoate (Compound 62)

A solution of 54.4 mg (0.119 mmol) ethyl 2-fluoro-4-[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)carbonyl]amino]-benzoate (Compound 40) and 57.7 mg (0.143 mmol) of [2,4-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-dithia-2,4-diphosphetane-2,4-disulfide] (Lawesson's Reagent) in 12.0 ml of benzene was refluxed overnight. Upon cooling to room temperature, the mixture was filtered and the filtrate concentrated under reduced pressure. The title compound was isolated by column chromatography (10 to 25% EtOAc/hexanes) as a yellow solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 9.08 (1H, s), 7.92 (1H, br s), 7.90 (1H, t, J=8.2 Hz), 7.66 (1H, dd, J=2.0, 6.0 Hz), 7.38 (3H, m), 7.18 (4H, m), 6.01 (1H, t, J=4.7 Hz), 4.35 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.36 (3H, s), 2.33 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.38 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.33 (6H, s).

2-fluoro-4-[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)thiocarbonyl]amino]-benzoic acid (Compound 63)

To a solution of 46.5 mg (0.098 mmol) ethyl 2-fluoro-4-[[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)thiocarbonyl]amino]-benzoate (Compound 62) in 1.0 ml EtOH and 1.0 ml of THF was added 55 mg NaOH (1.4 mmol) and 1.0 ml of H₂O. After stirring at room temperature for overnight EtOAc was added, and the reaction quenched by the addition of 10% HCl. Extraction with EtOAc was followed by washing of the combined organic layers with H₂O, saturated aqueous NaCl, and drying over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvent under reduced pressure provided a solid which after crystallization from CH₃CN afforded the title compound as a pale-yellow solid. 1H NMR (d₆-acetone): δ 11.05 (1H, s), 8.02 (1H, m), 7.99 (1H, t, J=8.3 Hz) 7.75 (1H, m), 7.69 (1H, dd, J=2.0, 6.1 Hz), 7.52 (1H, s), 7.46 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 7.21 (4H, m), 6.04 (1H, t, J=4.8 Hz), 2.37 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 2.33 (3H, s), 1.36 (6H, s).

Ethyl 5′,6′-dihydro-5′,5′-dimethyl-8′-(4-methylphenyl)-[2,2′-binaphthalene]-6-carboxylate (Compound 64)

A solution of 3,4-dihydro-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-7-bromonaphthalene Compound D) 0.45 g, 1.40 mmol) and THF (2.1 ml) was added to magnesium turnings (0.044 g, 1.82 mmol) at room temperature under argon. Two drops of ethylene dibromide were added, and the solution, which slowly became cloudy and yellow, was heated to reflux for 1.5 hours. In a second flask was added zinc chloride (0.210 g, 1.54 mmol), which was melted under high vacuum, cooled to room temperature and dissolved in THF (3 ml). The Grignard reagent was added to the second flask and, after 30 minutes at room temperature, a solution of ethyl 6-bromo-2-naphthalinecarboxylate (Compound N) 0.293 g, (1.05 mmol) and THF (2 ml) were added. In a third flask was prepared a solution of Ni(PPh₃)₄ and THF as follows: To a solution of NiCl₂(Ph₃)₂ (0.82 g, 1.25 mmol) and PPh₃ (0.66 g, 2.5 mmol) in THF (3.5 ml) was added a 1M solution of diisobutylaluminum hydride and hexanes (2.5 ml, 2.5 mmol), and the resulting solution diluted with THF to a total volume of 15 ml and stirred at room temperature for 15 minute. Three 0.60 ml aliquots of the Ni(PPh₃)₄ solution were added at 15 minutes intervals to the second flask. The resulting suspension was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours. The reaction was quenched by the addition of 5 ml 1N aqueous HCl and stirred for 1 hour before extracting the products with ethyl acetate. The organic layers were combined, washed with brine, dried (MgSO₄), filtered and the solvent removed in-vacuo. The residue was crystalized from hexanes to give 130 mg of pure material. The mother liquor was concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue purified by silica gel chromatography (95:5-hexanes:ethyl acetate) to give an additional 170 mg of the title compound (overall yield=300 mg, 64%) as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 8.57 (s, 1H), 8.05 (dd, 1H, J=1.7, 8.0 Hz), 7.84-7.95 (overlapping d's, 3H), 7.66 (dd, 1H, J=1.7, 8.5 Hz), 7.58 (dd, 1H, J=2.0, 8.0 Hz), 7.48 (d, 1H, J=8.0 Hz), 7.43 (d, 1H, J=2.0 Hz), 7.32 (d, 2H, J=8.0 Hz), 7.21 (d, 2H, J=8.0 Hz), 6.04 (t, 1H, J=4.8 Hz), 4.44 (q, 2H, J=7.1 Hz), 2.40 (s, 3H), 2.39 (d, 2H, J=4.8 Hz), 1.45 (t, 3H, J=7.1 Hz), 1.39 (s, 6H).

5′,6′-Dihydro-5′,5′-dimethyl-8′-(4-methylphenyl)-[2,2′-binaphthalene]-6-carboxylic acid (Compound 65)

A solution of ethyl 5′,6′-dihydro-5′,5′-dimethyl-8′-(4-methylphenyl)-[2,2′-binaphthalene]-6-carboxylate (Compound 64) 0.19 g, 0.43 mmol), EtOH (8 ml) and 1N aqueous NaOH (2 ml) was heated to 60° C. for 3 hours. The solution was cooled to 0° C. and acidified with 1N aqueous HCl. The product was extracted into ethyl acetate, and the organic layers combined, washed with water, brine, dried (MgSO₄), filtered and the solvent removed in-vacuo. The residue was recrystalized from THF/ethyl acetate at 0° C. to give 35 mg of pure material. The mother liquor was concentrated under reduced pressure and the residue purified by silica gel chromatography (100% ethyl acetate) to give an additional 125 mg of the title compound (overall yield=160 mg, 90%) as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (DMSO-d₆) δ 8.57 (s, 1H), 8.11 (d, 1H, J=8.7 Hz), 7.96-7.82 (overlapping d's, 3H), 7.65 (d, 2H, J=7.6 Hz), 7.50 (d, 1H, J=7.9 Hz), 7.28 (s, 1H), 7.26 (d, 2H, J=8.3 Hz), 7.21 (d, 2H, J=8.3 Hz), 6.01 (t, 1H, J=4.5 Hz), 3.34 (br s, 1H), 2.31 (s, 3H), 2.31 (d, 2H, J=4.5 Hz), 1.31 (s, 6H).

Ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-furyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 66)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of ethyl 4-[5,6-dihydro-5,5-diethyl-8-(4-methylphenyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 1), 250.0 mg (0.52 mmol) of ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)oxy-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound G) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 142.4 mg (1.045 mmol) of zinc chloride, 24.1 mg (0.02 mmol) of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(0) and 2-lithiofuran (prepared by the addition of 53.4 mg (0.52 ml, 0.78 mmol) of n-butyllithium (1.5M solution in hexane) to a cold solution (−78° C.) of 53.4 mg (0.784 mmol) of furan in 1.0 ml of THF). PMR (CDCl₃): δ 1.32 (6H, s), 1.41 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 2.35 (2H, d, J=5.0 Hz), 4.39 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 6.41 (1H, t, J=5.0 Hz), 6.50 (2H, s), 7.36 (1H, d, J=8.0 Hz), 7.45 (1H, dd, J=1.7, 8.0 Hz), 7.49 (1H, s), 7.57 (2H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.63 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz), 8.02 (2H, d, J=8.2 Hz).

4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-furyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 67)

Employing the same general procedure as for the preparation of 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-thiazolyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (Compound 30a), ethyl 4-[(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-furyl)-2-naphthalenyl)ethynyl]benzoate (Compound 66) was converted into the title compound (colorless solid) using 16.0 mg (0.38 mmol) of LiOH in H₂O. PMR (d₆-DMSO): δ 1.26 (6H, s), 2.33 (2H, d, J=4.9 Hz), 6.41 (1H, t, J=4.9 Hz), 6.60 (2H, m), 7.45-7.53 (3H, m), 7.64 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.75 (1H, d, J=1.6 Hz), 7.93 (2H, d, J=8.3 Hz).

3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-acetyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound 100C) and 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-6-acetyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound 100D)

To a cold (0° C.) mixture of aluminum chloride (263 g, 199.0 mmols) in dichloromethane (55 ml) was added acetylchloride (15 g, 192 mmols) and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1,1-dimethylnaphthalene (24.4 g, 152 mmols) in dichloromethane (20 ml) over 20 minutes. The reaction mixture was warmed to ambient temperature and stirred for 4 hours. Ice (200 g) was added to the reaction flask and the mixture diluted with ether (400 ml). The aqueous and organic layers were separated and the organic phase was washed with 10% HCl (50 ml), water (50 ml), 10% aqueous sodium bicarbonate, and saturated aqueous NaCl (50 ml) and then dried over MgSO₄. The solvent was removed by distillation to afford a yellow oil which was dissolved in benzene (50 ml).

To a cold (0° C.) solution of acetic acid (240 ml) and acetic anhydride (120 ml) was added chromium trioxide (50 g, 503 mmols) in small portions over 20 minutes under argon. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at 0° C. and diluted with benzene (120 ml). The benzene solution prepared above was added with stirring via an addition funnel over 20 minutes. After 8 hours, the reaction was quenched by the careful addition of isopropanol (50 ml) at 0° C., followed by water (100 ml). After 15 minutes, the reaction mixture was diluted with ether (1100 ml) and water (200 ml), and then neutralized with solid sodium bicarbonate (200 g). The ether layer was washed with water (100 ml), and saturated aqueous NaCl (2×100 ml), and dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvent under reduced pressure afforded a mixture of the isomeric diketones which were separated by chromatography (5% EtOAc/hexanes) (Compound 100C): 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.55 (1H, d, J=2.0 Hz), 8.13 (1H, dd, J=2.0, 8.3 Hz), 7.53 (1H, d, J=8.3 Hz), 2.77 (2H, t, J=6.6 Hz), 2.62 (3H, s), 2.05 (2H, t, J=6.6 Hz), 1.41 (6H, s). (Compound 100D): 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.10 (1H, d, 18.1 Hz), 8.02 (1H, d, J=1.6 Hz), 7.82 (1H, dd, J=1.6, 8.1 Hz), 2.77 (2H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 2.64 (3H, s), 2.05 (2H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.44 (6H, s).

3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-6-(2-(2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanyl))-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound 100E)

A solution of 1.80 g (8.34 mmol) of a 1:5 mixture of 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-7-acetyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound 100C); and 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-6-acetyl-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound 100D) in 50 ml benzene was combined with 517.7 mg (8.34 mmol) of ethylene glycol and 20.0 mg (0.11 mmol) of p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate. The resulting solution was heated to reflux for 18 hours, cooled to room temperature, and concentrated under reduced pressure. The title compound was isolated by column chromatography (10% EtOAc-hexanes) as a colorless oil. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.01 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 7.51 (1H, s), 7.43 (1H, dd, J=1.7, 6.4 Hz), 4.07 (2H, m), 3.79 (2H, m), 2.74 (2H, t, J=6.5 Hz), 2.04 (2H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.67 (3H, s), 1.46 (6H, s).

1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-hydroxy-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-6-(2-(2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanyl))naphthalene (Compound 100F)

To a solution of 496.2 mg (2.54 mmol) p-tolylmagnesiumbromide in 20 ml THF (2.54 ml; 1M solution in ether) was added a solution of 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-6-(2-(2-methyl-1,3-dioxolan-yl))-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound 100E, 200.0 mg, 0.769 mmol) in THF (5 ml). The solution was refluxed for 16 hours, cooled to room temperature, and washed with water, saturated aqueous NH₄Cl, and dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure and column chromatography (10% EtOAc/hexanes) afforded the title compound as a colorless solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.49 (1H, d, J=1.7 Hz), 7.19 (2H, m), 7.10 (2H, d, J=7.9 Hz), 7.04 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 4.05 (2H, m), 3.80 (2H, m), 2.34 (3H, s), 2.21 (1H, m), 2.10 (1H, m), 1.88 (1H, m), 1.65 (3H, s), 1.54 (1H, m), 1.39 (3H, s), 1.33 (3H, s).

3,4-dihydro-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-6-acetylnaphthalene (Compound 100G)

A solution of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-hydroxy-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-6-(2-(2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanyl))naphthalene (Compound 100F 160.0 mg, 0.52 mmol), p-toluenesulfonic acid monohydrate (4 mg) and 30 ml benzene was refluxed for 12 hours. After cooling to room temperature, the reaction mixture was diluted with ether (100 ml) and washed with 10% aqueous sodium bicarbonate, water, and saturated aqueous NaCl. The organic layer was dried over MgSO₄ and the solvents were removed under reduced pressure to give the title compound, which was isolated by column chromatography (10% EtOAc-hexanes) as a yellow oil. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.97 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz), 7.67 (1H, dd, J=1.7, 6.4 Hz), 7.22 (4H, s), 7.13 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 6.10 (1H, t, J=4.5 Hz), 2.59 (3H, s), 2.40 (3H, s), 2.38 (2H, d, J=4.7 Hz), 1.38 (6H, s).

4-[3-oxo-3-(7,8-dihydro-5-(4-methylphenyl)-8,8-dimethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-1-propenyl]-benzoic acid (Compound 101)

To a solution of 78.7 mg (0.272 mmol) 3,4-dihydro-1-(4-methylphenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-6-acetylnaphthalene (Compound 100G) in 4.0 ml of MeOH was added 53.1 mg (0.354 mmol) of 4-carboxy benzaldehyde, and 80. mg (2.00 mmol; 2.0 ml of 1M aqueous NaOH). The resulting solution was stirred at room temperature for 12 hours, concentrated under reduced pressure, and the residual oil dissolved in EtOAc. The solution was treated with 10% HCl, and the organic layer was washed with H₂O, and saturated aqueous NaCl, then dried over Na₂SO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced pressure gave the title compound as a colorless solid which was purified by recrystallization from CH₃CN. 1H NMR (acetone-d6): δ 8.00 (7H, m), 7.83 (1H, d, J=15.6 Hz), 7.24 (4H, s), 7.13 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 6.12 (1H, t, J=4.5 Hz), 2.42 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 2.38 (3H, s), 1.41 (6H, s).

3,4-dihydro-1-phenyl-4,4-dimethyl-6-acetylnaphthalene (Compound 100H)

To a solution of 508.0 mg (1.95 mmol) of 3,4-dihydro-4,4-dimethyl-6-(2-(2-methyl-1,3-dioxolanyl))-1(2H)-naphthalenone (Compound 100E) in 10 ml of THF was added 496.2 mg (2.54 mmol; 2.54 ml of a 1 M solution in Et₂O) of phenylmagnesium bromide. The resulting solution was heated to reflux for 8 hours, H₂O was added and heating continued for 30 minutes. The THF was removed under reduced pressure and the aqueous residue was extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were dried (MgSO₄), concentrated under reduced pressure, and the title compound isolated from the residue by column chromatography (10% EtOAc-hexanes) as a colorless oil. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 7.97 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz), 7.67 (1H, dd, J=2.1, 8.0 Hz), 7.34 (5H, m), 7.10 (1H, d, J8.1 Hz), 6.12 (1H, d, J=4.6 Hz), 2.59 (3H, s), 2.39 (2H, d, J=4.8 Hz), 1.38 (6H, s).

4-[3-oxo-3-(7,8-dihydro-5-phenyl-8,8-dimethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-1-propenyl]-benzoic acid (Compound 103)

To a solution of 115.0 mg (0.42 mmol) of 3,4-dihydro-1-phenyl-4,4-dimethyl)6-acetylnaphthalene (Compound 100H) and 65.0 mg (0.43 mmol) of 4-formyl-benzoic acid in 5.0 ml EtOH and 1.0 ml THF, was added 120.0 mg (3.00 mmol; 3.0 ml of a 1 M aqueous solution) of NaOH. The resulting yellow solution was stirred at room temperature for 12 hours. The solution was acidified with 6% aqueous HCl and extracted with EtOAc. The combined organic layers were dried (MgSO₄), concentrated under reduced pressure, and the title compounds was isolated by column chromatography (50% EtOAc-hexanes) as a pale yellow solid. 1H NMR (CDCl₃): δ 8.13 (2H, d, J=7.7 Hz), 8.04 (1H, s), 7.81 (1H, d, J=15.5 Hz), 7.75 (3H, m), 7.60 (1H, d, J=15.5 Hz), 7.35 (5H, m), 7.14 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 6.15 (1H, t, J=4.2 Hz), 2.41 (2H, d, J=4.2 Hz), 1.41 (6H, s).

Method of Potentiating Nuclear Receptor Agonists

Overview and introduction

We have discovered tat a subset of retinoid antagonists which exhibit negative hormone activity can be used for potentiating the biological activities of other retinoids and steroid receptor superfamily hormones. These other retinoids and steroid receptor superfamily hormones can be either endogenous hormones or pharmaceutical agents. Thus, for example, when used in combination with a retinoid negative hormone, certain activities of pharmaceutical retinoid agonists can be rendered more active in eliciting specific biological effects. Advantageously, this combination approach to drug administration can minimize undesirable side effects of pharmaceutical retinoids because lower dosages of the pharmaceutical retinoids can be used with improved effectiveness.

More particularly, we have discovered that AGN 193109, a synthetic retinoid having the structure shown in FIG. 1, exhibits unique and unexpected pharmacologic activities. AGN 193109 exhibits high affinity for the RAR subclass of nuclear receptors without activating these receptors or stimulating transcription of retinoid responsive genes. Instead, AGN 193109 inhibits the activation of RARs by retinoid agonists and therefore behaves as a retinoid antagonist.

Additionally, we have discovered that retinoid negative hormones can be used without coadministration of a retinoid agonist or steroid hormone to control certain disease symptoms. More specifically, the retinoid negative hormone disclosed herein can down-regulate the high level basal transcription of genes that are responsive to unliganded RARs. If, for example, uncontrolled cellular proliferation results from the activity of genes responsive to unliganded RARs, then that gene activity can be reduced by the administration of a retinoid negative hormone that inactivates RARs. Consequently, cellular proliferation dependent on the activity of unliganded RARs can be inhibited by the negative hormone. Inhibition of unliganded RARs cannot be achieved using conventional antagonists.

Significantly, we have discovered that AGN 193109 can both repress RAR basal activity and can sometimes potentiate the activities of other retinoid and steroid receptor superfamily hormone agonists. In the context of the intention, a hormone agonist is said to be potentiated by a negative hormone such as AGN 193109 if, in the presence of the negative hormone, a reduced concentration of the agonist elicits substantially the same quantitative response as that obtainable with the agonist alone. The quantitative response can, for example, be measured in a reporter gene assay in vitro. Thus, a therapeutic retinoid that elicits a desired response when used at a particular dosage or concentration is potentiated by AGN 193109 if, in combination with AGN 193109, a lower dosage or concentration of the therapeutic retinoid can be used to produce substantially the same effect as a higher dosage or concentration of the therapeutic retinoid when that therapeutic retinoid is used alone. The list of agonists that can be potentiated by coadministration with AGN 193109 includes RAR agonists, vitamin D receptor agonists, glucocorticoid receptor agonists and thyroid hormone receptor agonists. More particularly, specific agonists that can be potentiated by coadministration include: ATRA, 13-cis retinoic acid, the synthetic RAR agonist AGN 191183, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, dexamethasone and thyroid hormone (3,3′,5-triiodothyronine). Also disclosed herein is a method that can be used to identify other hormones that can be potentiated by coadministration with AGN 193109.

Thus, AGN 193109 behaves in a manner not anticipated for a simple retinoid antagonist, but as a negative hormone that can potentiate the activities of various members of the family of nuclear receptors. We also disclose a possible mechanism that can account for both negative hormone activity and the ability of AGN 193109 to potentiate the activities of other nuclear receptor ligands. This mechanism incorporates elements known to participate in retinoid-dependent signalling pathways and additionally incorporates a novel negative regulatory component.

Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that RARs, which are high affinity targets of AGN 193109 binding, are transcription factors that regulate the expression of a variety of retinoid responsive genes. Cis-regulatory DNA binding sites for the RARs have been identified nearby genes that are transcriptionally regulated in a retinoid-dependent fashion. RAR binding to such DNA sites, known as retinoic acid response elements (RAREs), has been well defined. Importantly, the RAREs bind heterodimers consisting of one RAR and one RXR. The RXR component of the heterodimer functions to promote a high affinity interaction between the RAR/RXR heterodimer and the RARE (Mangelsdorf et al. The Retinoid Receptors in The Retinoids: Biology, Chemistry and Medicine, 2nd edition, eds. Sporn et al., Raven Press, Ltd., New York 1994, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference).

As detailed below, our findings related to the negative hormone activity of AGN 193109 are consistent with a mechanism involving the interaction of a putative Negative Coactivator Protein (NCP) with the RAR. According to the proposed mechanism, this interaction is stabilized by AGN 193109.

Our results further indicated that AGN 193109 can modulate intracellular availability of NCP for interaction with nuclear receptors other than RARs that are occupied by AGN 193109. It follows that AGN 193109 can potentiate transcriptional regulatory pathways involving nuclear receptors that share with the RARs the ability to bind the NCP. In this regard, AGN 193109 exhibits the ability to modulate a variety of nuclear receptor pathways, an activity that would not be predicted for a conventional retinoid antagonist. Accordingly, AGN 193109 is useful as an agent for potentiating the activity of nuclear receptor ligands, including both endogenous hormones and prescribed therapeutics. This specific embodiment illustrates the more general principle that any nuclear receptor negative hormone will potentiate the activity of other nuclear receptors that competitively bind the NCP.

Although other materials and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present intention, the preferred methods and materials are now described. General references for methods that can be used to perform the various nucleic acid manipulations and procedures described herein can be found in Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (Sambrook et al. eds. Cold Spring Harbor Lab Publ. 1989) and Current Protocols in Molecular Biology (Ausubel et al. eds., Greene Publishing Associates and Wiley-Interscience 1987). The disclosures contained in these references are hereby incorporated by reference. A description of the experiments and results that led to the creation of the present invention follows.

Example 6 describes the methods used to demonstrate that AGN 193109 bound each of three RARs with high affinity but failed to activate retinoid dependent gene expression.

EXAMPLE 6 AGN 193109 Binds RARs with High Affinity but does not Transactivate Retinoid-Dependent Gene Expression

Human RAR-α, RAR-β and RAR-γ receptors were separately expressed as recombinant proteins using a baculovirus expression system essentially according to the method described by Allegretto et al. in J. Biol. Chem. 268:26625 (1993). The recombinant receptor proteins were separately employed for determining AGN 193109 binding affinities using the [³H]-ATRA displacement assay described by Heyman et al. in Cell 68:397 (1992). Dissociation constants (Kds) were determined according to the procedure described by Cheng et al. in Biochemical Pharmacology 22:3099 (1973).

AGN 193109 was also tested for its ability to transactivate RARs in CV-1 cells transiently cotransfected with RAR expression vectors and a retinoid responsive reporter gene construct. Receptor expression vectors pRShRAR-α (Giguere et al. Nature 330:624 (1987)), pRShRAR-β (Benbrook et al. Nature 333:669 (1988)) and pRShRAR-γ (Ishikawa et al. Mol. Endocrinol. 4:837 (1990)) were separately cotransfected with the ΔMTV-TREp-Luc reporter plasmid. Use of this luciferase reporter plasmid has been disclosed by Heyman et al. in Cell 68:397 (1992). The ΔMTV-TREp-Luc plasmid is essentially identical to the ΔMTV-TREp-CAT reporter construct described by Umesono et al. in Nature 336:262 (1988), except that the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene was substituted by a polynucleotide sequence encoding firefly luciferase. Transfection of green monkey CV-1 cells was carried out using the calcium phosphate coprecipitation method described in Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (Sambrook et al. eds. Cold Spring Harbor Lab Publ. 1989). CV-1 cells were plated at a density of 4×10⁴/well in 12 well multiwell plates and transiently transfected with a calcium phosphate precipitate containing 0.7 μg of reporter plasmid and 0.1 μg of receptor plasmid according to standard laboratory procedures. Cells were washed after 18 hours to remove the precipitate and refed with Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) (Gibco), containing 10% activated charcoal extracted fetal bovine serun (Gemini Bio-Products). Cells were treated with vehicle alone (ethanol) or AGN 193109 (10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁶ M) for 18 hours. Cell lysates were prepared in 0.1 M KPO₄ (pH 7.8), 1.0% TRITON X-100, 1.0 mM DTT, 2 mM EDTA. Luciferase activity was measured as described by de Wet et al. in Mol. Cell. Biol. 7:725 (1987), using firefly luciferin (Analytical Luminescence Laboratory) and an EG&G Berthold 96-well plate luminometer. Reported luciferase values represented the mean±SEM of triplicate determinations.

The results presented in Table 11 indicated that AGN 193109 bound each of RAR-α, RAR-β and RAR-γ with high affinity, but did not activate retinoid-dependent gene expression. More specifically, AGN 193109 bound each of the three receptors with Kd values in the 2-3 nM range. Despite this tight binding, AGN 193109 failed to activate gene expression when compared with inductions stimulated by ATRA. Accordingly, the half-maximal effective concentration of AGN 193109 (EC₅₀) was unmeasurable. Although not presented in the Table, we also found that AGN 193109 had no measurable affinity for the RXRs.

TABLE 11 AGN 193109 Binding and Transactivation of the RARs RAR-α RAR-β RAR-γ EC₅₀ (nM) No Activity No Activity No Activity K_(d) (nM) 2 2 3

Example 7 describes the methods used to demonstrate that AGN 193109 is an antagonist of ATRA dependent gene expression.

EXAMPLE 7 AGN 193109-Dependent Inhibition of RAR Transactivation by ATRA

The ability of AGN 193109 to antagonize ATRA mediated RAR activation was investigated in CV-1 cells cotransfected by the calcium phosphate coprecipitation method of Sambrook et al. (Molecular Cloning A Laboratory Manual Cold Spring Harbor Lab Publ. 1989). Eukaryotic expression vectors pRShRAR-α (Giguere et al. Nature 330:624 (1987)), pRShRAR-β (Benbrook et al. Nature 333:669 (1988)) and pRShRAR-γ (Ishikawa et al. Mol. Endocrinol. 4:837 (1990)) were cotransfected with the Δ-MTV-Luc reporter plasmid described by Hollenberg et al. (Cell 55:899 (1988)). Notably, the reporter plasmid contained two copies of the TRE-palindromic response element. Calcium phosphate transfections were carried out exactly as described in Example 6. Cells were dosed with vehicle alone (ethanol), ATRA (10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁶ M), AGN 193109 (10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁶ M), or 10⁻⁸ M ATRA in combination with AGN 193109 (10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁶ M) for 18 hours. Cell lysates and luciferase activity measurements were also performed as in Example 6.

The results of these procedures are presented in FIGS. A through 2F where luciferase values represent the mean±SEM of triplicate determinations. More specifically, the results presented in FIGS. 2A, 2C and 2E indicated that stimulation of transfected cells with ATRA led to dose responsive increases in luciferase activity. This confirmed that ATRA activated each of the three RARs in the experimental system and provided a comparative basis for detecting the activity of an antagonist. The graphic results presented in FIGS. 2B, 2D and 2F indicated that cotreatment of transfected cells with 10 nM ATRA and increasing concentrations of AGN 193109 led to an inhibition of luciferase activity. In particular, equal doses of AGN 193109 and ATRA gave greater than 50% inhibition relative to ATRA alone for all three RAR subtypes. Comparison of the ATRA dose response in the presence of different concentrations of AGN 193109 indicated that ATRA was competitively inhibited by AGN 193109. Notably, the horizontal axes on all of the graphs shown in FIG. 2 represents the log of the retinoid concentration. These results proved that AGN 193109 was a potent RAR antagonist.

We next performed experiments to elucidate the mechanism underlying the antagonist activity of AGN 193109. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that nuclear receptor activation is believed to involve a conformational change of the receptor that is induced by ligand binding. Indeed, the results of protease protection assays have confirmed that nuclear hormone agonists and antagonists cause receptor proteins to adopt different conformations (Keidel et al. Mol Cell. Biol. 14:287 (1994); Allan et al. J. Biol. Chem. 267:19513 (1992)). We used such an assay to determine if AGN 193109 and ATRA caused RAR-α to adopt different conformations. AGN 193583, an RAR-α-selective antagonist, was included as a positive control that is known to confer an antagonist-specific pattern of protease sensitivity.

Example 8 describes one method that was used to detect conformational changes in RAR-α resulting from AGN 193109 binding. As presented below, the results of this procedure unexpectedly indicated that AGN 193109 led to a pattern of trypsin sensitivity that was substantially identical to that induced by ATRA, an RAR agonist, and unlike that induced by a model RAR antagonist. This finding suggested that AGN 193109 possessed properties distinct from other retinoid antagonists.

EXAMPLE 8 Protease Protection Analysis

A plasmid constructed in the vector pGEM3Z (Pharmacia) and containing the RAR-α cDNA (Giguere et al. Nature 330:624 (1987)), was used in connection with the TNT-coupled reticulocyte lysate in vitro transcription-translation system (Promega) to prepare [³⁵S]-methionine labeled RAR-α. Limited proteolytic digestion of the labeled protein RAR-α was carried out according to the method described by Keidel et al. in Mol. Cell. Biol. 14:287 (1994). Aliquots of reticulocyte lysate containing [³⁵S]-methionine labeled RAR-α were incubated with either ATRA, AGN 193583 or AGN 193109 on ice for 45 minutes in a total volume of 9 μl. The retinoid final concentration for all trials was 100 nM for ATRA and AGN 193109, and 1000 nM for AGN 193583. The difference between the final concentrations of the retinoids was based on the approximate 10-fold difference in relative affinities of ATRA and AGN 193109 (having Kd at RAR-α of 2 and 10 nM, respectively) and AGN 193583 (having Kd at RAR-α of ≧100 nM). After ligand binding, 1 μl of appropriately concentrated trypsin was added to the mixture to give final concentrations of 25, 50 or 100 μg/ml. Samples were incubated at room temperature for 10 minutes and trypsin digestion stopped by addition of SDS-sample buffer. Samples were subjected to polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiographed according to standard procedures.

Both the agonist and antagonist led to distinct patterns of trypsin sensitivity that were different from the result obtained by digestion of the unliganded receptor. Autoradiographic results indicated that trypsin concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 μg/ml completely digested the radiolabeled RAR-α in 10 minutes at room temperature in the absence of added retinoid. Prebinding of ATRA led to the appearance of two major protease resistant species. Prebinding of the RAR-α-selective antagonist AGN 193583 gave rise to a protease resistant species that was of lower molecular weight than that resulting from ATRA prebinding. This result demonstrated that a retinoid agonist and antagonist led to conformational changes detectable by virtue of altered trypsin sensitivities. Surprisingly, prebinding of AGN 193109 gave rise to a protease protection pattern that was indistinguishable from that produced by prebinding of ATRA.

The results presented above confirmed that AGN 193109 bound the RAR-α and altered its conformation. Interestingly, the nature of this conformational change more closely resembled that which resulted from binding of an agonist (ATRA) than the alteration produced by antagonist (AGN 193583) binding. Clearly, the mechanism of AGN 193109 dependent antagonism was unique.

We considered possible mechanisms that could account for the antagonist activity of AGN 193109. In particular, we used a standard gel shift assay to test whether AGN 193109 perturbed RAR/RXR heterodimer formation or inhibited the interaction between RAR and its cognate DNA binding site.

Example 9 describes a gel electrophoretic mobility-shift assay used to demonstrate that AGN 193109 neither inhibited RAR/RXR dimerization nor inhibited binding of dimers to a target DNA.

EXAMPLE 9 Gel Shift Analysis

In vitro translated RAR-α was produced essentially as described under Example 8, except that ³⁵S-labeled methoinine was omitted. In vitro translated RXR-α was similarly produced using a pBluescript(II)(SK)-based vector containing the RXR-α cDNA described by Mangelsdorf, et al. in Nature 345:224-229 (1990) as the template for generating in vitro transcripts. The labeled RAR-α and RXR-α, alone or in combination, or prebound with AGN 193109 (10⁻⁶ M) either alone or in combination, were allowed to interact with an end-labeled DR-5 RARE double-stranded probe having the sequence 5′-TCAGGTCACCAGGAGGTCAGA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:1). The binding mixture was electrophoresed on a non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel and autoradiographed according to standard laboratory procedures. A single retarded species appearing on the autoradiograph that was common to all the lanes on the gel represented an undefined probe-binding factor present in the reticulocyte lysate. Only the RAR/RXR combination gave rise to a retinoid receptor-specific retarded species. Neither RAR alone nor RXR alone bound the probe to produce this shifted species. The presence of AGN 193109 did not diminish this interaction.

These results indicated that AGN 193109 did not substantially alter either the homo- or hetero-dimerization properties of RAR-α. Further, AGN 193109 did not inhibit the interaction of receptor dimers with a DNA segment containing the cognate binding site.

In view of the unique properties which characterized AGN 193109, we proceeded to investigate whether this antagonist could additionally inhibit the activity of unliganded RARs. The receptor/reporter system used to make this determination advantageously exhibited high level constitutive activity in the absence of added retinoid agonist. More specifically, these procedures employed the ER-RAR chimeric receptor and ERE-tk-Luc reporter system. The ERE-tk-Luc plasmid includes the region −397 to −87 of the estrogen responsive 5′-flanking region of the Xenopus vitellogenin A2 gene, described by Klein-Hitpass, et al. in Cell 46:1053-1061 (1986), ligated upstream of the HSV thymidine kinase promoter and luciferase reporter gene of plasmid tk-Luc. The ER-RAR chimeric receptors consisted of the estrogen receptor DNA binding domain fused to the “D-E-F” domain of the RARs. Those having ordinary skill in the art appreciate this “D-E-F” domain functions to bind retinoid, to provide a retinoid inducible transactivation function and to provide a contact site for heterodimerization with RXR. Thus, luciferase expression in this reporter system was dependent on activation of the transfected chimeric receptor construct.

Example 10 describes the method used to demonstrate that AGN 193109 inhibited basal gene activity attributable to unliganded RARs. These procedures were performed in the absence of added retinoid agonist. The results presented below provided the first indication that AGN 193109 exhibited negative hormone activity.

EXAMPLE 10 Repression of Basal Gene Activity of a Retinoid-Regulated Reporter in Transiently Cotransfected Cell Lines

CV-1 cells were co-trasfected with the ERE-tk-Luc reporter plasmid and either ER-RAR-α, ER-RAR-β or ER-RAR-γ expression plasmids The ERE-tk-Luc plasmid contained the estrogen-responsive promoter element of the Xenopus laevis vitellogenin A2 gene and was substantially identical to the reporter plasmid described by Klein-Hitpass et al. in Cell 46:1053 (1986), except that the CAT reporter gene was substituted by a polynucleotide sequence encoding luciferase. The ER-RAR-α, ER-RAR-β and ER-RAR-γ chimeric receptor-encoding polynucleotides employed in the co-transfection have been described by Graupner et al. in Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 179:1554 (1991). These polynucleotides were ligated into the pECE expression vector described by Ellis et al. in Cell 45:721 (1986) and expressed under transcriptional control of the SV-40 promoter. Calcium phosphate transfections were carried out exactly as described in Example 6 using 0.5 μg/well of reporter plasmid and either 0.05 μg, 0.10 μg or 0.2 μg/well of receptor plasmid. Cells were dosed with vehicle alone (ethanol), ATRA (10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁶ M), or AGN 193109 (10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁶ M) for 18 hours. Cell lysates and luciferase activity measurements were performed as described in Example 6.

The results presented in FIGS. 3A, 4A and 5A confirmed that ATRA strongly induced luciferase expression in all transfectants. Basal level expression of luciferase for the three transfected chimeric RAR isoforms ranged from approximately 7,000 to 40,000 relative light units (rlu) and was somewhat dependent on the amount of receptor plasmid used in the transfection. Thus, the three chimeric receptors were activatable by ATRA, as expected. More specifically, all three receptors bound ATRA and activated transcription of the luciferase reporter gene harbored on the ERE-tk-Luc plasmid.

FIGS. 3B, 4B and 5B present AGN 193109 dose response curves obtained in the absence of any exogenous retinoid agonist. Interestingly, ER-RAR-α (FIG. 3B) was substantially unaffected by AGN 193109, while the ER-RAR-β and ER-RAR-γ chimeric receptors (FIGS. 4B and 5B, respectively) exhibited an AGN 193109 dose responsive decrease in luciferase reporter activity.

We further investigated the negative hormone activity of AGN 193109 by testing its ability to repress gene expression mediated by a chimeric RAR-γ receptor engineered to possess a constitutive transcription activator domain. More specifically, we used a constitutively active RAR-γ chimeric receptor fused to the acidic activator domain of HSV VP-16, called RAR-γ-VP-16, in two types of luciferase reporter systems. The first consisted of the ERE-tk-Luc reporter cotransfected with ER-RARs and ER-RXR-α. The second utilized the ΔMTV-TREp-Luc reporter instead of the ERE-tk-Luc reporter.

Example 11 describes the method used to demonstrate that AGN 193109 could suppress the activity of a transcription activator domain of an RAR. The results presented below proved that AGN 193109 could suppress RAR-dependent gene expression in the absence of an agonist and confirmed that AGN 193109 exhibited negative hormone activity.

EXAMPLE 11 Repression of RAR-VP-16 Activity in Transiently Transfected Cells

CV-1 cells were trasiently cotransfected according to the calcium phosphate coprecipitation technique described under Example 6 using 0.5 μg/well of the ERE-tk-Luc luciferase reporter plasmid, 0.1 μg/well of the ER-RXR-α chimeric reporter expression plasmid, and either 0 μg or 0.1 μg/well of the RAR-γ-VP-16 expression plasmid. The chimeric receptor ER-RXR-α consisted of the hormone binding domain (amino acids 181 to 458) of RXR-α (Mangelsdorf, et al. Nature 345:224-229 (1990)) fused to the estrogen receptor DNA binding domain (Graupner, et al. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 179:1554, (1991)) and was expressed from the SV-40 based expression vector pECE described by Ellis, et al. in Cell 45:721 (1986). RAR-γ-VP-16 is identical to the VP16RAR-γl expression plasmid described by Nagpal et al. in EMBO J. 12:2349 (1993), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, and encodes a chimeric protein having the activation domain of the VP-16 protein of HSV fused to the amino-terminus of full length RAR-γ. At eighteen hours post-transfection, cells were rinsed with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and fed with DMEM (Gibco-BRL) containing 10% FBS (Gemini Bio-Products) that had been extracted with charcoal to remove retinoids. Cells were dosed with an appropriate dilution of AGN 193109 or ATRA in ethanol vehicle or ethanol alone for 18 hours, then rinsed with PBS and lysed using 0.1 M KPO₄ (pH 7.8), 1.0% TRITON X-100, 1.0 mM DTT, 2 mM EDTA. Luciferase activity was measured according to the method described by de Wet, et al. in Mol. Cell. Biol. 7:725 (1987), using firefly luciferin (Analytical Luminescence Laboratory) and an EG&G Berthold 96-well plate luminometer. Luciferase values represented the mean±SEM of triplicate determinations.

As shown in FIG. 6, CV-1 cells transfected with the ERE-tk-Luc reporter construct and the ER-RAR-α chimeric expression plasmid exhibited a weak activation of luciferase activity by ATRA, likely due to isomerization of ATRA to 9C-RA, the natural ligand for the RXRs (Heyman et al. Cell 68:397 (1992). Cells transfected with the same mixture of reporter and chimeric receptor plasmids but treated with AGN 193109 did not exhibit any effect on luciferase activity. As AGN 193109 does not bind to the RXRs, this latter result was expected. CV-1 cells similarly transfected with the ERE-tk-Luc reporter but with substitution of an ER-RAR chimeric receptor expression plasmid for ER-RXR-α exhibited a robust induction of luciferase activity following ATRA treatment.

In contrast, inclusion of the RAR-γ-VP-16 expression plasmid with the ER-RXR-α and ERE-tk-Luc plasmids in the transfection mixture resulted in a significant increase in the basal luciferase activity as measured in the absence of any added retinoid. This increase in basal luciferase activity observed for the ER-RXR-α/RAR-γ-VP-16 cotransfectants, when compared to the result obtained using cells transfected with ER-RXR-α alone, indicated that recombinant ER-RXR-α and RAR-γ-VP-16 proteins could heterodimerize. Interaction of the heterodimer with the cis-regulatory estrogen responsive element led to a targeting of the VP-16 activation domain to the promoter region of the ERE-tk-Luc reporter. Treatment of such triply transfected cells with ATRA led to a modest increase of luciferase activity over the high basal level. However, treatment of the triple transfetants with AGN 193109 resulted in a dose dependent decrease in luciferase activity. Importantly, FIG. 6 shows that AGN 193109 treatment of cells cotransfected with ER-RXR-α and RAR-γ-VP-16 led to repression of luciferase activity with maximal inhibition occurring at approximately 10⁻⁸ M AGN 193109.

Our observation that AGN 193109 repressed the constitutive transcriptional activation function of RAR-γ-VP-16 in the presence of an RXR was explained by a model wherein binding of AGN 193109 to the RAR induced a conformational change in the RAR which stabilizes a negative conformation that facilitates the binding of a trans-acting negative coactivator protein. When the AGN 193109/RAR complex is bound by the NCP, the RAR is incapable of upregulating transcription of genes that are ordinarily responsive to activated RARs. Our model further proposes that the intracellular reservoir of NCP is in limiting concentration in certain contexts and can be depleted by virtue of AGN 193109 stimulated complexation with RARs.

The results presented in FIG. 6 additionally indicated that even at 10⁻⁶ M AGN 193109, the ER-RXR-α and RAR-γ-VP-16 proteins could interact to form heterodimers competent for activating transcription of the reporter gene. More specifically, cells transfected with ER-RXR-α and RAR-γ-VP-16 and treated with AGN 193109 at a concentration (10⁻⁸-10⁻⁶ M) sufficient to provide maximal inhibition, gave luciferase activity readings of approximately 16,000 rlu. Conversely, cells transfected only with ER-RXR-α and then treated with AGN 193109 at a concentration as high as 10⁻⁶ M exhibited luciferase expression levels of only approximately 8,000 rlu. The fact that a higher level of luciferase activity was obtained in cells that expressed both ER-RXR-α and RAR-γ-VP-16, even in the presence of 10⁻⁶ M AGN 193109 demonstrated the persistence of an interaction between the two recombinant receptors. The repression of RAR-γ-VP-16 activity by AGN 193109 suggested that modulation of NCP interaction can be codominate with VP-16 activation. Accordingly, we realized that it may be possible to modulate the expression of genes which are not ordinarily regulated by retinoids in an AGN 193109 dependent manner.

Candidates for AGN 193109 regulatable genes include those that are activated by transcription factor complexes which consist of non-RAR factors that associate or heterodimerize with RARs, wherein the non-RAR factor does not require an RAR agonist for activation. While stimulation with an RAR agonist may have substantially no effect on the expression of such genes, administration with AGN 193109 can promote formation of inactive transcription complexes comprising AGN 193109/RAR/NCP. Consequently, addition of the AGN 193109 retinoid negative hormone can down-regulate transcription of an otherwise retinoid-insensitive gene.

This same mechanism can account for the observation that AGN 193109 can repress the activity of the tissue transglutaminase (TGase) gene in HL-60 cells. A retinoid response element consisting of three canonical retinoid half sites spaced by 5 and 7 base pairs has been identified in the transcription control region of this gene. While TGase can be induced by RXR-selective agonists, it is not responsive to RAR-selective agonists. The TGase retinoid response element is bound by an RAR/RXR heterodimer (Davies et al. in Press). Interestingly, AGN 193109 is able to repress TGase activity induced by RXR agonists. This AGN 193109 mediated repression can be accounted for by the ability of this negative hormone to sequester NCPs to the RAR component of the heterodimer, thereby repressing the activity of the associated RXR.

We have also obtained results which support conclusions identical to those presented under Example 11 by employing RAR-γ-VP-16 and expression constructs and the ΔMTV-TREp-Luc reporter plasmid instead of the RAR-γ-VP-16 and ER-RXR-α expression constructs in combination with the ERE-tk-Luc reporter plasmid. Consistent with the results presented above, we found that RAR-γ-VP-16 activity at the ΔMTV-TREp-Luc reporter was inhibited by AGN 193109. Therefore, AGN 193109 repressed RAR-γ-VP-16 activity when this chimeric receptor was directly bound to a retinoic acid receptor response element instead of indirectly bound to an estrogen response element in the promoter region of the reporter plasmid. These findings demonstrated that an assay for identifying agents having negative hormone activity need not be limited by the use of a particular reporter plasmid. Instead, the critical feature embodied by an experimental system useful for identifying retinoid negative hormones involves detecting the ability of a compound to repress the activity of an RAR engineered to contain a constitutive ascription activation domain.

Generally, retinoid negative hormones can be identified as the subset of retinoid compounds that repress within a transfected cell the basal level expression of a reporter gene that is transcriptionally responsive to direct or indirect binding by a retinoid receptor or a chimeric receptor that includes at least the domains of the retinoid receptor located C-terminal to the DNA binding domain of that receptor. This approach has been adapted to a screening method useful for identifying retinoid negative hormones. In the various embodiments of the invented screening method, the structure of the receptor for which a negative hormone is sought is variable. More specifically, the retinoid receptor can be either of the RAR or the RXR subtype. The receptor can optionally be engineered to include a constitutive transcription activator domain. The retinoid receptor used to screen for negative hormones optionally contains a heterologous DNA binding domain as a substitute for the DNA binding domain endogenous to the native receptor. However, when a second receptor is used in the screening method, and where the second receptor can dimerize with the retinoid receptor for which a negative hormone is sought, then that retinoid receptor may not require a DNA binding domain because it can be linked to the transcription control region of the reporter gene indirectly through dimerization with the second receptor which is itself bound to the transcription control region.

In the practice of the screening method, the ability of a compound to repress the basal expression of a reporter is typically measured in an in vitro assay. Basal expression represents the baseline level of reporter expression in transfected cells under conditions where no exogenously added retinoid agonist is present. Optionally, steps may be taken to remove endogenous retinoid ligands from the environment of the transfected cells via procedures such as charcoal extraction of the serum that is used to culture cells in vitro.

Examples of reporter genes useful in connection with the screening method include those encoding luciferase, beta galactosidase, chloramphenicol acetyl transferase or cell surface antigens that can be detected by immunochemical means. In practice, the nature of the reporter gene is not expected to be critical for the operability of the method. However, the transcriptional regulatory region of the reporter construct must include one or more cis-regulatory elements that are targets of transcription factors for which negative hormones are being sought. For example, if one desires to identify RAR negative hormones, then the transcriptional regulatory region of the reporter construct could contain a cis-regulatory element that can be bound by an RAR-containing protein. In this example, there should be correspondence between the DNA binding domain of the RAR and the cis-regulatory element of the transcriptional regulatory region of the reporter construct. Thus, if a chimeric RAR having a constitutive transcription activator domain and a DNA binding domain that can bind cis-regulatory estrogen responsive elements is employed in the screening method, then the transcriptional regulatory region of the reporter construct should contain an estrogen responsive element.

Examples of cis-regulatory elements that directly bind retinoid receptors (RAREs) useful in connection with the reporter assay are disclosed by Mangelsdorf et al. in The Retinoid Receptors in The Retinoids: Biology, Chemistry and Medicine, 2nd edition, eds. Sporn et al., Raven Press, Ltd., New York (1994), the disclosure of which has been incorporated by reference hereinabove. Examples of cis-regulatory elements that indirectly bind chimeric receptors include DNA binding sites for any DNA binding protein for which the DNA binding domain of the protein can be incorporated into a chimeric receptor consisting of this DNA binding domain attached to a retinoid receptor. Specific examples of heterologous DNA binding domains that can be engineered into chimeric receptors and that will recognize heterologous cis-regulatory elements include those recognizing estrogen responsive elements. Thus, the retinoid receptor portion of a chimeric receptor useful in connection with the screening method need not contain the DNA binding of the retinoid receptor but must contain at least the ligand binding domain of the retinoid receptor.

A further example of indirect retinoid receptor binding to the cis-regulatory element includes the use of a protein that can bind the cis-regulatory element and dimerize with a retinoid receptor. In this case, the retinoid receptor associates with the cis-regulatory element only by association with the protein responsible for DNA binding. An example of such a system would include the use of a fusion protein consisting of a heterologous DNA binding domain fused to an RXR, containing at least the domain of the RXR responsible for dimerization with RARs. Cointroduced RARs can dimerize with such a fusion protein bound to the cis-regulatory element. We anticipate that any cis-regulatory element-binding protein that dimerizes with RARs to result in an indirect association of the RAR with the cis-regulatory element will also be suitable for use with the negative hormone screening method.

In a preferred embodiment of the screening method, retinoid negative hormones are identified as those retinoids that repress basal expression of an engineered RAR transcription factor having increased basal activity. Although not essential for operability of the screening method, the engineered RAR employed in the following Example included a constitutive transcription activating domain. Use of this chimeric receptor advantageously provided a means by which the basal expression of a reporter gene could be elevated in the absence of any retinoid. Although we have employed transient transfection in the procedures detailed above, stably transfected cell lines constitutively expressing the chimeric receptor would also be useful in connection with the screening method.

As disclosed in the following Example, a chimeric retinoid receptor having a constitutive transcription activator domain was heterodimerizable with a second receptor engineered to contain a DNA binding domain specific for an estrogen responsive cis-regulatory element. In this case the chimeric retinoid receptor having a constitutive transcription activator domain associates with the cis-regulatory region controlling reporter gene expression indirectly via binding to a second receptor that binds a DNA target sequence. More particularly, the second receptor was engineered to contain a DNA binding domain that recognized an estrogen responsive element. Advantageously, the reporter gene having an estrogen responsive element in the upstream promoter region was unresponsive to retinoid agonists in the absence of the transfected chimeric receptor having the constitutive transcription activator domain. Accordingly, all reporter gene activity was attributed to the transfected receptors. The combination use of the estrogen responsive element DNA binding domain and the estrogen responsive element cis-regulatory element are intended to be illustrative only. Those having ordinary skill in the art will realize that other combinations of engineered receptors having specificity for non-RARE cis-regulatory elements will also be useful in the practice of the invented screening method.

Cells useful in connection with the screening method will be eukaryotic cells that can be transfected. The cells may be animal cells such as human, primate or rodent cells. We have achieved very good results using CV-1 cells, but reasonably expect that other cultured cell lines could also be used successfully. Any of a number of conventional transfection methods known in the art can be used to introduce an expression construct encoding the chimeric retinoid receptor having a constitutive transcription activator domain.

The constitutive transcription activator domain will consist of a plurality of amino acids which will likely have an overall acidic character as represented by a negative charge under neutral pH conditions. For example, the constitutive transcription activator domain may have an amino acid sequence which is also found in viral transcription factor. One example of a viral transcription factor having a constitutive transcription activator domain is the herpes simplex virus 16. However, other viral or synthetic transcription activator domains would also be useful in the construction of expression constructs encoding the chimeric retinoid receptor having a constitutive transcription activator domain.

As described below, we have developed a generalized screening method useful for identifying retinoid negative hormones. This screening method provides a means for distinguishing simple antagonists from negative hormones. Table 12 lists several retinoid compounds which exhibit potent affinity for RAR-γ yet, with the exception of ATRA, did not transactivate this receptor in a transient cotransfection transactivation assay. We therefore tested these compounds to determine which were RAR-γ antagonists and which, if any, of these antagonists exhibited negative hormone activity.

Example 12 describes the method used to identify retinoid compounds that were antagonists, and the subset of antagonists that exhibited negative hormone activity.

EXAMPLE 12 Assay for Retinoid Negative Hormones

4×10⁴ CV-1 cells were transfected by the calcium phosphate coprecipitation procedure described in Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (Sambrook et al. eds. Cold Spring Harbor Lab Publ. 1989) using 0.5 μg ERE-tk-Luc reporter plasmid and 0.1 μg ER-RAR-γ (Graupner et al. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 179:1554 (1991)) chimeric expression plasmid. After 18 hours, cells were rinsed with PBS and fed with DMEM (Gibco-BRL) containing 10% activated charcoal extracted FBS (Gemini Bio-Products). Cells were treated with 10⁻⁸ M ATRA in ethanol or ethanol alone. In addition, ATRA treated cells were treated with 10⁻⁹, 10⁻⁸, 10⁻⁷ or 10⁻⁶ M of the compounds listed in Table 12. After 18 hours, cells were rinsed in PBS and lysed in 0.1 M KPO₄ (pH 7.8), 1.0% TRITON X-100, 1.0 mM DTT, 2 mM EDTA. Luciferase activities were measured as described by deWet et al. in Mol. Cell. Biol. 7:725 (1987).

TABLE 12 Compound Kd (nM) @ RAR-γ^(a) EC₅₀ (nM) @ RAR-γ^(b) ATRA 12 17 AGN 193109 6 na (Compound 60) AGN 193174 52 na (Compound 34a) AGN 193199 30 na AGN 193385 25 na (Compound 23) AGN 193389 13 na (Compound 25) AGN 193840 40 na AGN 193871 30 na (Compound 50) ^(a)Relative affinity (Kd) determined by competition of ³H-ATRA binding to baculovirus expressed RAR-γ and application of the Cheng-Prussof equation. ^(b)EC₅₀ measured in CV-1 cells transiently cotransfected with ΔMTV-TREp-Luc and RS-RAR-γ. “na” denotes no activity.

As indicated by the results presented in part in FIG. 7 and in Table 12, with the exception of ATRA, all of the compounds listed in Table 12 were retinoid antagonists at RAR-γ.

The RAR-γ antagonists identified in Table 12 were next screened to determine which, if any, were also retinoid negative hormones. 4×10⁴ CV-1 cells were transfected according to the calcium phosphate procedure described in Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (Sambrook et al. eds. Cold Spring Harbor Lab Publ. 1989) using 0.5 μg ERE-tk-Luc reporter plasmid and 0.1 μg ER-RXR-α (Graupner et al. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 179:1554 (1991)) and 0.2 μg RAR-γ-VP-16 (Nagpal et al. EMBO J. 12:2349 (1993)) chimeric expression plasmids. After 18 hours, cells were rinsed with PBS and fed with DMEM (Gibco-BRL) containing 10% activated charcoal extracted FBS (Gemini Bio-Products). Cells were treated with 10⁻⁹, 10⁻⁸, 10⁻⁷ or 10⁻⁶ M of each of the compounds listed in Table 12. Treatment with ethanol vehicle alone served as the negative control. After 18 hours, cells were rinsed in PBS and lysed in 0.1 M KPO₄ (pH 7.8), 1.0% TRITON X-100, 1.0 mM DTT, 2 mM EDTA. Luciferase activities were measured as previously by deWet et al. in Mol Cell. Biol. 7:725 (1987).

As shown in FIG. 8, the retinoid antagonists of Table 12 could be separated into two classes by virtue of their effect on the constitutive transcription activation function of the RAR-γ-VP-16 chimeric retinoid receptor. One group, which included AGN 193174, AGN 193199 and AGN 193840, did not repress RAR-γ-VP-16 activity even though they were ATRA antagonists. In contrast AGN 193109, AGN 193385, AGN 193389 and AGN 193871 exhibited a dose dependent repression of RAR-γ-VP-16 constitutive activity. Therefore, while the compounds of both groups were RAR-γ antagonists, only those of the second group exhibited negative hormone activity. This assay advantageously distinguished retinoid negative hormones from simple retinoid antagonists.

The foregoing experimental results proved that AGN 193109-met the criteria that define a negative hormone. More specifically, the results presented under Example 11 demonstrated that AGN 193109 had the capacity to exert inhibitory activity at the RARs even in the absence of exogenously added retinoid ligands. As such, this compound possessed biological activities that did not depend upon blockade of the interaction between the RARs and agonists such as ATRA and AGN 191183. These findings led us to conclude that AGN 193109 stabilized interactions between RARs and NCPs. As diagrammed in FIG. 9, NCP/RAR/PCP interactions exist in an equilibrium state. An agonist serves to increase PCP interactions and decrease NCP interactions, while an inverse agonist or negative hormone stabilizes NCP and decreases PCP interactions. As indicated previously, our experimental results suggested that the intracellular availability of NCP for other receptors can be modulated by AGN 193109 administration. More specifically, we discovered that AGN 193109 can promote complexation of NCP with RARs, thereby reducing the intracellular reservoir of NCP available for interaction with transcription factors other than the RARs.

We next examined the effect of AGN 193109 on agonist-mediated inhibition of AP-1 dependent gene expression. In Endocr. Rev. 14:651 (1993), Pfhal disclosed that retinoid agonists can down-regulate gene expression by a mechanism that involved inhibition of AP-1 activity. We postulated that AGN 193109 could have had either of two effects when used in combination with a retinoid agonist in a model system designed to measure AP-1 activity. First, AGN 193109 could conceivably have antagonized the effect of the agonist, thereby relieving the agonist-dependent inhibition of AP-1 activity. Alternatively, AGN 193109 could have potentiated the agonist's activity, thereby exaggerating the agonist-dependent inhibition of AP-1 activity.

Example 13 describes the methods used to demonstrate that AGN 193109 potentiated the anti-AP-1 activity of a retinoid agonist. As disclosed below, the AGN 191183 retinoid agonist weakly inhibited AP-1 dependent gene expression. The combination of AGN 193109 and the retinoid agonist strongly inhibited AP-1 dependent gene expression. By itself, AGN 193109 had substantially no anti-AP-1 activity.

EXAMPLE 13 AGN 193109 Potentiates the Anti-AP-1 Activity of a Retinoid Agonist

HeLa cells were transfected with 1 μg of the Str-AP1-CAT reporter gene construct and 0.2 μg of plasmid pRS-hRARα, described by Giguere et al. in Nature 33:624 (1987), using LIPOFECTAMINE (Life Technologies, Inc.). Str-AP1-CAT was prepared by cloning a DNA fragment corresponding to positions −84 to +1 of the rat stromelysin-1 promoter (Matrisian et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. 6:1679 (1986)) between the HindIII-BamHI sites of pBLCAT3 (Luckow et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 15:5490 (1987)). This sequence of the stromelysin-1 promoter contains an AP1 motif as its sole enhancer element (Nicholson et al., EMBO J. 9:4443 (1990). The promoter sequence was prepared by annealing two synthetic oligonucleotides having sequences: 5′-AGAAGCTTATGGAAGCAATTATGAGTCAGTTTGCGGGTGACTCTGCAAAT ACTGCCACTCTATAAAAGTTGGGCTCAGAAAGGTGGACCTCGAGGATCCAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO:2), and 5′-CTGGATCCTCGAGGTCCACCTTTCTGAGCCCAACTTTTATAGAGTGGCAG TATTTGCAGAGTCACCCGCAAACTGACTCATAATTGCTTCCATAAGCTTCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:3). Procedures involving transfection, treatment with appropriate compounds and measurement of CAT activity were carried out as described by Nagpal et al. in J. Bol. Chem. 270:923 (1995), the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The results of these procedures indicated that AGN 193109 potentiated the anti-AP-1 activity of the retinoid agonist, AGN 191183. More specifically, in the concentration range of from 10⁻¹² to 10⁻¹⁰ M, AGN 191183 did not inhibit the TPA-induced Str-AP-1-CAT expression. Treatment with AGN 193109 in the concentration range of from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁸ M did not substantially inhibit AP-1 mediated reporter activity. However, the results presented in FIG. 10 indicated that stimulation of the transfectants with the combination of AGN 193109 (10⁻⁸ M) and AGN 191183 in the concentration range of from 10⁻¹² to 10⁻¹⁰ M substantially inhibited TPA-induced Str-AP1-CAT expression by an amount of from 12% to 21%. Therefore, AGN 193109 potentiated the anti-AP-1 activity of AGN 191183 under conditions where this retinoid agonist ordinarily did not inhibit AP-1 activity.

We reasoned that AGN 193109 potentiated the agonist-mediated repression of AP-1 activity by a mechanism that likely involved AGN 193109-dependent sequestration of NCPs onto RARs. RARs belong to a superfamily of nuclear receptors that also includes receptors for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, glucocorticoid, thyroid hormone, estrogen and progesterone. It was a reasonable assumption that the ability to bind NCPs may be shared among different members of the nuclear receptor superfamily. This led us to speculate that AGN 193109 could potentiate the anti-AP-1 activity of one or more of the ligands that interact with this superfamily of nuclear receptors.

The results presented in the preceding Example clearly indicated that AGN 193109 potentiated the anti-AP-1 activity of a retinoid agonist. More specifically, AGN 193109 lowered the threshold dose at which the anti-AP-1 activity of AGN 191183 could be detected. Since AGN 193109 has substantially no anti-AP-1 activity by itself, its effect on nuclear receptor agonists was synergistic. We also found that the AGN i193109 negative hormone potentiated the anti-AP-1 activity of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃, the natural ligand, for the vitamin D₃ receptor.

The observed synergy between AGN 193109 and AGN 191183 in the preceding Example necessarily implied that the anti-AP-1 activity of the retinoid agonist and the AGN 193109-mediated potentiation of that activity must result from different mechanisms. If the mechanisms of action of the two agents were identical, then it follows that the effectiveness of the combination of AGN 193109 and the agonist would have been additive. Instead, the combination was shown to be more effective than either agent alone, an effect that could not have been predicted in advance of this finding.

Significantly, the AGN 193109-mediated potentiation of the RAR agonist was performed using an approximately 100-fold molar excess of AGN 193109 over that of the retinoid agonist. Accordingly, the majority of RARs should have been bound by AGN 193109 leaving very few RARs available for agonist binding. In spite of this fact, the population of RARs that were not bound by AGN 193109 were able to bind retinoid agonist and vigorously stimulate an agonist-dependent response measurable as an inhibition of reporter gene expression. Thus, our data suggested possible heterogeneity of RARs that are induced by AGN 193109.

The negative hormone activity of AGN 193109, attributed to its ability to promote the interaction of RARs and NCPs, provided a basis for understanding the synergy between AGN 193109 and retinoid agonists. Our results were fully consistent with a model in which AGN 193109 treatment of cells promoted binding of RARs and NCPs, thereby reducing the number of free NCP and free RAR within the cell. This results in the generation of two populations of RARs that are functionally distinct. The first population is represented by RARs associated with NCPs. Such AGN 193109/RAR/NCP complexes cannot be activated by retinoid agonists. The second population consists of RARs that are not bound by NCP, and that remain available for interaction with agonists. This latter population is designated “RAR*” to indicate free RARs in an environment substantially depleted of NCP.

The RAR*s have decreased probabilities of association with NCP through equilibrium binding and have an increased sensitivity to retinoid agonists measurable, for example, as anti-AP-1 activity. This is so because, while the intracellular reservoir of NCP is depleted by virtue of AGN 193109 administration, the reservoir of PCP has not been depleted. Accordingly, free RAR*s can bind a retinoid agonist and interact with PCP factors in an environment substantially depleted of NCP. The ability of AGN 193109 to increase the sensitivity of other nuclear receptors to their respective agonists can be attributed to the ability of these different nuclear receptors to interact with the same NCPs that interact with AGN 193109/RAR complexes. This model of AGN 193109-mediated modulation of NCP availability for nuclear receptor family members is schematically represented in FIG. 11.

This mechanistic model led us to predict that AGN 193109 could modulate the activities of nuclear receptor ligands other than retinoid agonists. As illustrated in the following Example, we confirmed that AGN 193109 potentiated the activity of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ in an in vitro transactivation assay.

Example 14 describes the methods used to demonstrate that AGN 193109 enhanced the activity of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ in a transactivation assay.

EXAMPLE 14 AGN 193109 Potentiates 1.25-Dihydroxyvitamin D₃ Activity

Hela cells were transfected using the cationic liposome-mediated transfection procedure described by Felgner et al. in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:7413 (1987). 5×10⁴ cells were plated in 12-well multiwell plates and grown in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS. Cells were cotransfected in serum-free medium using 2 μg/well of LIPOFECTAMINE reagent (Life Technologies, Inc.) with 0.7 μg of the reporter plasmid MTV-VDRE-Luc, containing two copies of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ response element 5′-GTACAAGGTTCACGAGGTTCACGTCTTA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:4) from the mouse osteopontin gene (Ferrara et al. J. Biol. Cheml. 269:2971 (1994)) ligated into the reporter plasmid ΔMTV-Luc (Heyman et al. in Cell 68:397 (1992)), and 0.3 μg of the plasmid pGEM3Z (Pharmacia, Inc.) as carrier DNA to bring the final concentration of DNA to 1.0 μg per well. After six hours of transfection, cells were fed with growth medium containing charcoal extracted FBS at a final concentration of 10%. Eighteen hours after transfection cells were treated with vehicle alone (ethanol) or AGN 193109 in ethanol at a final concentration of either 10⁻⁸ or 10⁻⁷ M. Six hours later 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ was added in ethanol to a final concentration of from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁷ M. Cells were lysed and harvested eighteen hours following 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ treatment. Luciferase activity was measured as described above. This experimental system allowed a convenient method of monitoring and quantitating 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃-dependent gene expression.

The results presented in FIG. 12 indicated that, when compared with the result obtained using 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ alone, AGN 193109 coadministered with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ shifted the dose response curve to the left. This confirmed that AGN 193109 potentiated the effectiveness of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ in the in vitro transactivation assay. More specifically, FIG. 12 graphically illustrates that an AGN 193109 concentration as low as 10-100 nM rendered the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ approximately 10 fold more active. While a 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ concentration of 10⁻⁸ M was required to produce a luciferase expression of approximately 2,000 rlu, only one-tenth as much 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ was required to produce the same luciferase output when the vitamin was coadministered with AGN 193109 at a concentration of 10⁻⁸-10⁻⁷ M. Although not shown on the graph in FIG. 12, substantially identical results were obtained using AGN 193109 concentrations of 10⁻⁹ M and 10⁻⁸ M. Thus, coadministration with AGN 193109 substantially reduced the amount of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ that was required to produce a similar effect in the absence of the negative hormone.

Interestingly, when the above procedure was repeated with cotransfection of a vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression plasmid, there was a coincident decrease in the ability of AGN 193109 to potentiate the activity of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃. We interpreted this result as indicating that over-expression of VDRs could affect the ability of AGN 193109 to potentiate the activity of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃. Thus, the intracellular concentration of a ligand receptor, which may differ in a tissue-specific fashion, can influence the ability of AGN 193109 to potentiate the activity of a ligand that binds the receptor. This was again consistent with a model in which titratable NCPs contributed to the regulation of the Vitamin D₃ response, and supported the model set forth above.

As illustrated in the following Example, we also confirmed that AGN 193109 potentiate anti-AP-1 activity of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃. Our model for the activity of AGN 193109 action explains this observation by invoking that NCPs avidly associate with RARs in the presence of this drug. Endogenous vitamin D receptors present in HeLa cells likely were rendered more sensitive to the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ ligand, with the consequence of exaggerating the ability of this ligand to inhibit expression from the Str-AP1-CAT reporter.

Example 15 describes the methods used to demonstrate that AGN 193109 potentiated the anti-AP-1 activity of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃.

EXAMPLE 15 AGN 193109 Potentiates the Anti-AP-1 Activity of 1.25-Dihydroxyvitamin D₃

HeLa cells were transfected with 1 μg of Str-AP1-CAT using LIPOFECTAMINE according to the method described by Nagpal et al. in J. Biol. Chem. 270:923 (1995). Transfected cells were treated with AGN 193109 alone (10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁷ M), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ alone (10⁻¹² to 10⁻⁷ M) or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (10⁻¹² to 10⁻⁷ M) in the presence of 10⁻⁸ M AGN 193109.

The results of these procedures indicated that AGN 193109 potentiated the ability of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ to inhibit TPA-induced AP-1 activity. When used a one in the concentration range of from 10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁷ M, AGN 193109 had no detectable anti-AP-1 activity. The results presented in FIG. 13 indicated that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ repressed TPA-stimulated activity only in the 10⁻⁸ and 10⁻⁷ M concentration range. Analysis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ mediated repression of TPA stimulated CAT activity in the presence of 10⁻⁸ M AGN 193109 indicated that anti-AP-1 activity was detectable at 10⁻¹⁰ and 10⁻⁹ M 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ and an increase in activity at 10⁻⁸ and 10⁻⁷ M doses compared to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ treatment alone. This AGN 193109 dependent modulation of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ mediated anti-AP-1 activity was consistent with our model in which NCP sequestration to RARs made the NCP unavailable for interaction with other nuclear receptor family members. Accordingly, the receptors were rendered more sensitive to the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ treatment.

The mechanisms underlying RAR mediated transactivation and anti-AP-1 activity are likely different. This conclusion was based on our observation that high doses of AGN 193109 completely inhibited transactivation without substantially inhibiting anti-AP1 activity. We therefore wished to gain additional evidence to support our model for RAR* formation mediated by AGN 193109 treatment. To accomplish this, we investigated whether AGN 193109 could potentiate the activity of the RAR specific agonist AGN 191183 in an in vitro transactivation assay.

Example 16 describes the methods used to demonstrate that AGN 193109 potentiated the activity of the RAR specific agonist, AGN 191183. The results of this procedure indicated that, under particular circumstances, AGN 193109 enhanced the potency of the RAR specific retinoid, and provided strong evidence that AGN 193109 promoted RAR* formation.

EXAMPLE 16 Potentiation of Retinoid Effectiveness by AGN 193109 Coadministration

Hela cells were transfected using the cationic liposome-mediated transfection procedure described by Felgner et al. in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:7413 (1987). 5×10⁴ cells were plated in 12 well multiwell plates and grown in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS. Cells were cotransfected in serum free medium using LIPOFECTAMINE reagent (2 μg/well, Life Technologies, Inc.) with 0.7 μg of the reporter plasmid MTV-TREp-Luc, containing two copies of the TREpal response element 5′-TCAGGTCATGACCTGA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 5) inserted into the reporter plasmid ΔMTV-Luc (Heyman et al. in Cell 68:397 (1992)), and 0.1 μg of the RAR-γ expression plasmid pRShRAR-γ (Ishikawa et al. Mol. Endocrinol. 4:837 (1990)). After six hours of transfection, cells were fed with growth medium containing charcoal extracted FBS at a final concentration of 10%. Eighteen hours after transfection, cells were treated with vehicle alone (ethanol) or AGN 193109 in ethanol at a final concentration of from 10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁸ M. Six hours later, AGN 191183 was added in ethanol to a final concentration of either 0, 10⁻¹⁰ or 10⁻⁹ M. Cells were harvested after eighteen hours of AGN 191183 treatment and luciferase activity was measured as described above.

Preliminary experiments indicated that 10⁻⁹ M AGN 193109 was relatively ineffective at inhibiting the response to of 10⁻⁹ M AGN 191183 in HeLa cells. This contrasted with the ability of 10⁻⁹ M AGN 193109 to inhibit 10⁻⁸ M ATRA in CV-1 cells (FIG. 2).

The results presented in FIG. 14 supported the prediction that AGN 193109 stimulated the formation of RAR*. Consistent with our characterization of the antagonist and negative hormone activities of AGN 193109, treatment with AGN 193109 resulted in a biphasic dose response curve. The lowest doses of AGN 193109 (10⁻¹¹ and 10⁻¹⁰ M) resulted in a stimulation of luciferase activity over that of AGN 191183 alone. This effect suggests that RAR*s are generated by AGN 193109. Curiously, this was also seen for AGN 193109 treatment alone, suggesting that RAR*'s can respond to an endogenous ligand. AGN 191183 is a synthetic retinoid agonist and, like ATRA, activates transcription through the RARs. Substitution of AGN 191183 for ATRA in Example 7 would give qualitatively similar results (i.e., AGN 193109 would antagonize the effect of 10 nM AGN 191183). Example 16 illustrates that, while AGN 193109 can function as an antagonist of RAR agonists, dosing conditions could easily be identified wherein AGN 193109 coadministration potentiated activation mediated by an RAR agonist. It is important to note that the doses of the compounds used in Example 16 are substantially lower than the doses employed in the procedure described under Example 7. We proposed that AGN 193109 treatment could lead to RAR heterogeneity RARs versus RAR*S. The apparent heterogeneity (i.e., ability to potentiate) appears to have different windows in transactivation versus AP-1 repression. The reason that the curves are biphasic is because, with increasing amounts of AGN 193109, there is proportionately less RAR available to bind the agonist. This doesn't appear to be the case for AP-1 repression and we are left to speculate that this difference must reflect two distinct mechanisms for transactivation and AP-1 repression by the same receptor species.

Clinical results have confirmed that some retinoids are useful for inhibiting the growth of premalignant and malignant cervical lesions. Exemplary studies supporting this conclusion have been published by Graham et al. in West. J. Med 145: 192 (1986), by Lippman et al. in J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 84:241 (1992), and by Weiner et al. in Invest. New Drugs 4:241 (1986)).

Similar conclusions are supported by the results of in vitro studies that used cultured cells to quantitate the antiproliferative effects of various retinoids. More specifically, Agarwal et al. in Cancer Res. 51:3982 (1991) employed the ECE16-1 cell line to model the early stages of cervical dysplasia and demonstrated that retinoic acid could inhibit epidermal growth factor (EGF) dependent cellular proliferation.

Example 17 describes the methods used to demonstrate that AGN 193109 can antagonize the activity of the AGN 191183 retinoid agonist which inhibited proliferation of the ECE16-1 cell line.

EXAMPLE 17 AGN 193109 Antagonizes the Antiproliferative Effect of Retinoids in ECE16-1 Cells

ECE16-1 cells were seeded at a density of 1×10⁴ cells per cm² in complete medium containing DMEM:F12 (3:1), nonessential amino acids, 5% FBS, 5 μg/ml transferrin, 2 nM of 3,3′,5 triiodothyronine (thyroid hormone or “T₃”), 0.1 nM cholera toxin, 2 mM L-glutamine, 1.8×10⁻⁴ M adenine and 10 ng/ml EGF. Cells were allowed to attach to plates overnight and then shifted to defined medium containing DMEM:F12 (3:1), 2 mM L-glutamine, nonessential amino acids, 0.1% bovine serum albumin, 1.8×10⁻⁴ M adenine, 5 μg/ml transferrin, 2 mM T₃, 50 μg/ml ascorbic acid, 100 ug/ml streptomycin, 100 units/ml penicillin and 50 μg/ml gentamicin. Defied medium (DM) was supplemented with 10 ng/ml EGF. EGF treated cells received 10 nM of the AGN 191183 retinoid agonist in combination with either 0, 0.11 1.0, 10, 100 or 1000 nM AGN 193109 or 1000 nM AGN 193109 alone. After three days of treatment, cells were harvested as described by Hembree et al. in Cancer Res. 54:3160 (1994) and cell numbers determined using a COULTER counter.

The results presented in FIG. 15 demonstrated that ECE16-1 cells proliferated in response to EGF but not in defined medium alone. This confirmed the findings published by Andreatta-van Leyen et al. in J. Cell. Physio. 160:265 (1994), and by Hembree et al. in Cancer Res. 54:3160 (1994). Addition of 10 nM AGN 191.183 and 0 nM AGN 193109 completely inhibited EGF mediated proliferation. Thus, AGN 191183 was a potent antiproliferative retinoid. Increasing the AGN 193109 concentration from 0 nM to 10 nM antagonized the AGN 191183 mediated growth inhibition by approximately 50%. A ten-fold molar excess of AGN 193109 completely reversed the antiproliferative effect of AGN 191183. Treatment of cells with 1000 nM AGN 193109 alone had no effect on the EGF mediated proliferation increase. These results proved that AGN 193109 antagonized the antiproliferative effect of a retinoid but had substantially no antiproliferative activity of its own when used to treat cells representing cervical epithelium that is sensitive to growth inhibition by retinoids such as AGN 191183. Notably, there was no evidence that AGN 193109 potentiated the antiproliferative activity of the AGN 191183 agonist using the ECE16-1 model system.

In contrast to the model system represented by the ECE16-1 cell line, there are other examples where cellular proliferation associated with cervical dysplasia cannot be inhibited by retinoid agonists. For example, Agarwal et al. in Cancer Res. 54:2108 (1994) described the use of CaSki cells as a model for cervical tumors that are unresponsive to retinoid therapy. As disclosed below, rather than inhibiting cell proliferation, retinoid treatment had substantially no effect on the growth rate of CaSki cells. The following Example addressed the effect of the AGN 193109 negative hormone on the proliferation rates of this cell line. The results unexpectedly proved that AGN 193109 can inhibit the proliferation of cervical tumor cells that are unresponsive to the antiproliferative effects of retinoid agonists.

Example 18 describes the methods used to demonstrate that AGN 193109 inhibited the growth of a cervical tumor cell line that did not respond to the antiproliferative effects of other retinoids such as AGN 191183. Significantly, AGN 193109 displayed antiproliferative activity in the absence of added retinoid

EXAMPLE 18 AGN 193109 Inhibits the Proliferation Rate of CaSki Cervical Carcinoma-Derived Cell Line

We tested the effect of EGF on CaSki cell proliferation, either alone or in combination with the AGN 191183 retinoid agonist and/or the AGN 193109 negative hormone at a concentration of 10⁻⁶ M. Cell proliferation assays were performed as described above for studies involving ECE16-1 cells. EGF was added to the retinoid treated cultures to give a final concentration of 20 ng/ml. Cells were treated with AGN 191183 (10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁶ M) in the presence or absence of 10⁻⁶ M AGN 193109 for a total of three days. The media was replaced with fresh media and each of the two retinoid compounds, as appropriate, every day. Cell numbers were determined using a COULTER counter as described above.

The results presented in FIG. 16 indicated that CaSki cells were substantially refractory to the effects of a retinoid agonist and that AGN 193109 exhibited antiproliferative activity in the absence of added retinoid. The presence of EGF in the culture media stimulated CaSki cell growth. This conclusion was based on comparison of the stripped bar representing no AGN 191183 and the open bar representing defined growth media (“DM”) alone. AGN 191183 treatment had no antiproliferative activity on the CaSki tumor cell line. We discounted any slight increase in the cellular proliferation rate associated with the retinoid agonist, because a ten thousand fold increase in the retinoid agonist concentration was associated with only roughly a 20% increase in the proliferation rate. Thus, the AGN 191183 agonist bad substantially no effect on the proliferation rate of CaSki cells.

The results presented in FIG. 16 also indicated that AGN 193109 inhibited proliferation of the CaSki cervical epithelial cell line. This conclusion was based on comparison of the measurements appearing as the “0” AGN 191183 black bar and the “0” AGN 191183 stripped bar. Thus, AGN 193109 was capable of stimulating a biological response in the absence of added retinoid agonist when used to treat cervical tumor cells that were not growth inhibited by retinoid agonists such as AGN 191183.

Our discovery that the AGN 193109 negative hormone could inhibit cellular proliferation was consistent with a model in which unliganded RAR mediated the expression of genes that were required for proliferation. While an RAR agonist such as AGN 191183 had substantially no effect, or perhaps promoted cellular proliferation slightly, AGN 193109 had an antiproliferative effect. The AGN 193109 negative hormone likely bound RARs thereby promoting NCP association and causing the RARs to adopt an inactive conformation. According to our model, this repressed gene activity that was positively regulated by unliganded RARs. This ability of AGN 193109 to down-regulate the activity of unliganded RARs likely resulted from its ability to promote the association of RARs and NCPs.

Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that some retinoid agonists are useful for controlling the undesirable consequences of cell growth that follows retinal detachment. After retinal detachment the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) dedifferentiates, proliferates and migrates into the subretinal space. This process can negatively impact the success of surgical procedures aimed at retinal reattachment. Campochiaro et al. in Invest. Opthal & Vis. Sci. 32:65 (1991) have demonstrated that RAR agonists such as ATRA exhibited an antiproliferative effect on the growth of primary human RPE cultures. Retinoid agonists have also been shown to decrease the incidence of retinal detachment following retinal reattachment surgery (Fekrat et al. Opthamology 102:412 (1994)). As disclosed in the following Example, we analyzed the ability of the AGN 193109 negative hormone to suppress growth in primary human RPE cultures.

Example 19 describes the methods used to demonstrate that AGN 193109 potentiated the antiproliferative effect of a retinoid antagonist in a primary culture of human retinal pigment epithelium.

EXAMPLE 19 AGN 193109 Potentiates the Antiproliferative Activity of ATRA

Primary cultures of human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were established according to the method described by Campochiaro et al. in Invest. Opthal & Vis. Sci. 32:65 (1991). 5×10⁴ cells were plated in 16-mm wells of 24-well multiwell plates in DMEM (Gibco) containing 5% FBS. Cells were mock treated with ethanol vehicle alone, ATRA (10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁶ M) in ethanol, AGN 193109 (10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁶ M) in ethanol, or ATRA (10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁶ M) and 10⁻⁶ M AGN 193109. Cells were fed with fresh media containing the appropriate concentrations of these compounds every two days for a total of five days of treatment. Cells were removed from the plates by gentle digestion with trypsin and the number of cells was counted with an electronic cell counter.

The results presented in FIG. 17 indicated that AGN 193109 dramatically potentiated the antiproliferative activity of ATRA on RPE cells. Treatment of primary RPE cells with ATRA led to a dose dependent decrease in RPE cell proliferation with an approximately 40% decrease at 10⁻⁶ M ATRA relative to control cultures. AGN 193109 treatment did not substantially alter the growth rate of the RPE cells at any concentration tested in the procedure. Unexpectedly, the combination of ATRA (10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁶ M) and 10⁻⁶ M AGN 193109 had a stronger antiproliferative activity than ATRA alone. Thus, AGN 193109 cotreatment potentiated the antiproliferative effect of ATRA. More specifically, the results shown in the Figure indicated that the antiproliferative effect of 10⁻⁸ M ATRA was obtainable using only 10⁻¹⁰ M ATRA in combination with 10⁻⁷ M AGN 193109. Thus, the AGN 193109 negative hormone advantageously enhanced the antiproliferative activity of ATRA by approximately 100 fold.

In an independent experiment, comparison of the antiproliferative effect of ATRA (10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁶ M) with that of ATRA and 10⁻⁶ M AGN 193109 again demonstrated the apparent increase in sensitivity of primary RPE cells to ATRA in the presence of AGN 193109. In this system, AGN 193109 neither functioned as a retinoid antagonist nor exhibited an antiproliferative effect when used alone. However, AGN 193109 coadministration potentiated the antiproliferative activity of the retinoid agonist.

AGN 193109 was tested for its ability to potentiate the anti-proliferative effect of 13-cis retinoic acid (13-cis RA) in primary RPE cultures using conditions and techniques to measure RPE cell proliferation described above. Notably, 13-cis RA is clinically significant. More particularly, 13-cis RA is useful in the treatment of several disease states, including acne (Peck et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 300:329 (1977); Jones et al. Br. J. Dermatol. 108:333 (1980)), and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and cervix in combination treatment with interferon 2α (Lippmnan et al. J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 84:241 (1992); Moore et al. Seminars in Hematology 31:3 (1994)).

The results presented in FIG. 18 indicated that both 13-cis RA (10⁻¹² to 10⁻⁶ M) and ATRA (10⁻¹² to 10⁻⁶ M) effectively inhibited RPE cell growth. Notably, the 13-cis isomer was approximately two orders of magnitude less effective in this assay when compared with ATRA. Similar to the results obtained using coadministration of AGN 193109 and ATRA (above), coadministration of AGN 193109 (either 10⁻⁸ or 10⁻⁶ M) with 13-cis RA (10⁻¹² to 10⁻⁶ M) dramatically increased the potency of 13-cis RA in mediating repression of RPE cell proliferation. In contrast to treatment with 13-cis RA alone, coadministration of AGN 193109 enhanced the potency of 13-cis RA. Thus, AGN 193109 potentiated the antiproliferative activity of 13-cis RA.

We next tested the ability of AGN 193109 to potentiate the activities of other nuclear receptor hormones in primary RPE cell cultures. Dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid receptor agonist, is one member of a class of compounds that have been used clinically for their potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. Thyroid hormone (T3; 3,3′,5′-Triiodothyronine) is a natural thyroid hormone receptor agonist used primarily for hormone replacement therapy in the treatment of hypothyroidism. Methods used in these experiments were identical to those described above for procedures employing ATRA and 13-cis RA.

The results of these procedures indicated that coadministration of AGN 193109 and the nuclear receptor agonists potentiated the antiproliferative activities of the nuclear receptor agonists. More specifically, the results presented in FIG. 19 showed that single-agent treatment of RPE cells with either dexamethasone (10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁶ M) or ATRA (10⁻¹² to 10⁻⁶ M) was substantially unable to inhibit RPE cell proliferation. However, treatment of RPE cells with dexamethasone (10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁶ M) and either 10⁻⁸ or 10⁻⁶M AGN 193109 repressed RPE cell proliferation to an extent that approximated the inhibition caused by treatment with ATRA. Similarly, the results presented in FIG. 20 indicated that AGN 193109 potentiated the antiproliferative activity of thyroid hormone. Similar to the results obtained using dexamethasone, the proliferation of RPE cells was refractory to single-agent treatment with thyroid hormone (10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁶ M). However, co-treatment of RPE cells with thyroid hormone (10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁶ M) and AGN 193109 (either 10⁻⁸ or 10⁻⁶ M) inhibited RPE cell proliferation in a thyroid hormone dependent manner. We concluded that AGN 193109 rendered primary RPE cultures sensitive to the anti-proliferative effects of these nuclear receptor agonist. The mechanism by which AGN 193109 mediated these effects likely involved modulation of NCP/RAR interactions.

We additionally examined the effect of AGN 193109 on the expression of marker genes in other experimental systems that were sensitive to retinoid agonists. Both the MRP8 and stromelysin genes are known to be inhibited by retinoid agonists in a variety of biological systems. For example, Wilkinson et al. in J. Cell Sci. 91:221 (1988) and Madsen et al. in J. Invest. Dermatol. 99:299 (1992) have disclosed that MRP8 gene expression was elevated in psoriasis. Conversely, MRP8 gene expression was repressed by the retinoid agonist AGN 190168 in human psoriatic skin (Nagpal et al., submitted 1995), in human keratinocyte raft cultures (Chandraratna et al. J. Invest. Dermatol. 102:625 (1994)) and in cultured human newborn foreskin keratinocytes (Thacher et al. J. Invest. Dermatol. 104:594 (1995)). Nagpal et al. in J. Biol. Chem. 270:923 (1995) have disclosed that stromelysin mRNA levels were repressed by retinoid agonists such as AGN 190168 in cultured human newborn foreskin keratinocytes. We analyzed the regulated expression of these genes following treatment of cultured human newborn foreskin keratinocytes with either the AGN 191183 retinoid agonist or AGN 193109.

Example 20 describes the methods used to demonstrate that AGN 193109 inhibited MRP-8 expression in cultured keratinocytes.

EXAMPLE 20 AGN 193109 Inhibits MRP-8 Expression in Keratinocytes

Primary foreskin keratinocytes were isolated according to the procedure described by Nagpal et al. in J. Biol. Chem. 270:923 (1995) and cultured in keratinocyte growth medium (KGM) that was purchased from Clonetics. After 3 days of treatment with AGN 191183 (10⁻⁷ M) or AGN 193109 (10⁻⁶ M), total cellular RNA was isolated from treated and control keratinocytes according to standard methods. The mRNA was reverse transcribed into cDNA which then served as the template in a PCR amplification protocol using primers specific for either the glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) housekeeping gene or MRP-8. The GAPDH primers had the sequences 5′-CCCACCCATGGCAAATTCCATGGCA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:6) and 5′-TCTAGACGGCAGGTCAGGTCCACC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:7). The MRP-8 primers had the sequences 5′-ACGCGTCCGGAAGACCTGGT-3′ (SEQ ID NO:8) and 5′-ATTCTGCAGGTACATGTCCA-3′ (SEQ ID NO:9). An aliquot from the MRP-8 amplification reaction (10 μl) was removed after every cycle of PCR amplification starting from 12 cycles and ending at 21 cycles. Similarly, an aliquot of the GAPDH amplification reaction was removed after every PCR cycle starling at 15 cycles and ending at 24 cycles. The samples were electrophoresed on 2% agarose gels and the separated amplification products detected by ethidium bromide staining. The staining intensity of the amplification products served as a quantitative measure of the amount of starting mRNA specific for the given primer set.

The results of this procedure indicated that both AGN 191183 and AGN 193109 independently inhibited MRP-8 expression in keratinocytes. The intensity of the stained GAPDH amplification product was substantially equivalent in the lanes of the gel representing starting material isolated from control, AGN 191183, and AGN 193109 treated keratinocytes. Weak bands representing the GAPDH amplification product were first detectable in lanes corresponding to samples removed after 18 cycles of PCR amplification. The equivalent staining intensities among the various lanes of the gel indicated that equivalent masses of starting material were used for all samples. Accordingly, differences in the intensities of stained bands representing MRP-8 amplification products were indicative of differences in MRP-8 mRNA expression among the various starting samples. As expected, the MRP-8 amplified signal was inhibited in AGN 191183 (10⁻⁷ M) treated cultures relative to an untreated control. AGN 193109 (⁻⁶ M) treatment of cultured keratinocytes also repressed MRP8 expression as judged by lower intensity of stained amplification product.

As illustrated in the following Example, AGN 193109 also inhibited expression of a second marker gene in keratinocytes. Nagpal et al. in J. Biol. Chem. 270:923 (1995) disclosed that stromelysin mRNA expression was down-regulated by RAR specific agonists in cultured newborn human foreskin keratinocytes. Nicholson et al. (EMBO J. 9:4443 (1990)) disclosed that an AP-1 promoter element played a role in the retinoid-dependent negative regulation of the stromelysin-1 gene. Thus, it was of interest to determine whether AGN 193109 could alter the expression of this gene.

Example 21 describes the methods used to demonstrate that AGN 193109 inhibited stromelysin-1 gene expression in the absence of an exogenously added retinoid agonist.

EXAMPLE 21 AGN 193109 Inhibits Stromelysin-1 Expression in Cultured Keratinocytes

Primary foreskin keratinocytes were either mock treated or treated for 24 hours with the RAR agonist AGN 191183 (10⁻⁷ M), or AGN 193109 (10⁻⁶ M). Total RNA prepared from mock-treated and retinoid-treated keratinocytes was reverse transcribed and the resulting cDNA was PCR amplified using β-actin or stromelysin-1 oligo primers exactly as described by Nagpal et al. in J. Biol. Chem. 270:923 (1995)), the disclosure of which has been incorporated by referent A sample (10 μl) from the PCR amplification reaction was removed after every three cycles starting from 18 cycles of PCR amplification. The sample was electrophoresed on a 2% agarose gel and detected after ethidium bromide staining.

Results of these procedures indicated that AGN 193109 inhibited stromelysin-1 gene expression in the absence of an exogenously added retinoid agonist. More specifically, ethidium-stained bands representing β-actin amplification products were easily detectable the agarose gels after 18 cycles of PCR. While all band intensities increased with additional cycles of the amplification reaction, stained bands were somewhat less intense in samples representing AGN 191183 treated cells. This indicated that a slightly lesser amount of RNA must have been present in the starting samples corresponding to cells treated with AGN 191183. The results also indicated that stromelysin-1 mRNA was detectable in mock-treated keratinocytes starting at 33 cycles of PCR amplification. As expected, stromelysin-1 mRNA expression was inhibited after AGN 191183 (10⁻⁷ M) treatment as judged by the weaker band intensity on when compared with samples derived from mock-treated samples. When normalized to the intensities of the β-actin amplification products, and consistent with the results obtained in measurements of MRP-8 expression, AGN 193109 (10⁻⁶ M) treatment of keratinocytes resulted in down-regulation of stromelysin-1 mRNA levels. Indeed, the down-regulation stimulated by AGN 193109 treatment was indistinguishable from the down-regulation caused by treatment of keratinocytes with the RAR agonist AGN 191183.

As disclosed herein, AGN 193109 can have any of three possible effects with respect to modulating the activity of a coadministered steroid superfamily agonist. First, AGN 193109 may have no effect. Second, AGN 193109 may antagonize the effect of the agonist, thereby leading to a decrease in the activity of the agonist. Finally, AGN 193109 may potentiate the activity of the agonist, thereby leading to a stimulation of the measure effect produced by the agonist.

Compounds having activities that can be modulated by AGN 193109 include retinoid receptor agonists and agonists which bind to other members of the steroid receptor superfamily. This latter category of agonists includes vitamin D receptor agonists, glucocorticoid receptor agonists and thyroid hormone receptor agonists. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, estrogen receptor and orphan receptors having presently unknown ligands may also be potentiated by AGN 193109. In the case where the steroid superfamily agonist is an RAR agonist, AGN 193109 may either antagonize or potentiate the activity of that agonist. In the case where the agonist used in combination with AGN 193109 is a compound that can bind to a nuclear receptor other than an RAR, coadministration of AGN 193109 will either have no effect or will sensitize of the system to the agonist so that the activity of the agonist is potentiated.

A generalized exemplary procedure for determining which of the thee possible activities AGN 193109 will have in a particular system follows. This description illustrates each of the possible outcomes for AGN 193109 coadministration with a steroid receptor superfamily agonist. Biological systems useful for assessing the ability of AGN 193109 to modulate the activity of a nuclear receptor agonist include but are not limited to: established tissue culture cell lines, virally transformed cell lines, ex-vivo primary culture cells and in vivo studies utilizing living organisms. Measurement of the biological effect of AGN 193109 in such systems could include determination of any of a variety of biological endpoints. These endpoints include: analysis of cellular proliferation, analysis of programmed cell death (apoptosis), analysis of the differentiation state of cells via gene expression assays, analysis of the ability of cells to form tumors in nude mice and analysis of gene expression after transient or stable introduction of reporter gene constructs.

For illustrative purposes, an mRNA species designated as mRNA “X” is expressed from gene “X” in primary cultured “Y” cells isolated from the organ “Z.” Under standard culture conditions, where several “Y” cell genetic markers are maintained, including expression of gene “X”, addition of a retinoid agonist leads to a decrease in the abundance of “X” mRNA. Analysis of gene X expression can be assessed via isolation of cellular mRNA and measurement of the abundance of X mRNA levels via polymerase chain reaction, ribonuclease protection or RNA blotting procedures such as Northern analyses. After isolation from organ Z, primary Y cells are cultured in an appropriate growth medium. The primary cultures are then plated into tissue culture plates for expansion of the cell population. This step facilitates separation of the cells into four sample groups so that various doses of the retinoid agonist and AGN 193109 can be delivered. The first group will be a control, receiving vehicle only. The second group will receive the RAR agonist, retinoic acid, delivered in ethanol, in amounts sufficient to provide final concentrations in the range of from 10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁶ M. The lowest dose may need to be empirically determined depending on the sensitivity of the system. Such determinations fall within the scope of routine experimentation for one having ordinary skill in the art. The third group will receive both the nuclear receptor agonist at the same doses used for treating the cells of group 2, and a constant dose of AGN 193109. The dose of AGN 193109 used for treating the cells of group 3 will also need to be determined empirically, but should approximate the affinity constant (Kd) of AGN 193109 for the RAR subtypes (i.e., at least 10⁻⁸ M). The fourth group will receive AGN 193109 at doses minimally including that used for agonist coadministration in group 3. An alternative to this dosing regimen would substitute AGN 193109 for the retinoid agonist described in the foregoing example, as specified in group 2, and a constant dose of retinoid agonist in place of AGN 193109, as specified in groups 3 and 4. After a suitable incubation period, cells should be harvested in a manner suitable for determination of the biological endpoint being measured as an indicator of agonist activity.

For example, analysis of the effect of AGN 193109 on retinoic acid dependent regulation of gene expression would involve comparison of the abundance of the mRNA species X in the mRNA pool harvested from cells treated according to each of the four protocols described above. RNA derived from control cells will serve to determine the baseline expression of X mRNA and will represent a condition corresponding to no repression. Comparison of this level with that measured in the mRNA pool derived from cells treated with retinoic acid will allow for determination of the effect of this agonist on gene expression. Quantitated levels of the repression of specific mRNAs resulting from retinoic acid treatment can then be compared with mRNA abundances from cells treated in parallel with either AGN 193109 alone or AGN 193109 in combination with retinoic acid. While this generalized example illustrates an analysis of the effect of coadministered AGN 193109 on the expression of a gene repressed by a retinoid agonist, the example could alternatively have described analysis of the effect of coadministered AGN 193109 on a gene that was induced by a retinoid agonist. The critical feature for determining whether AGN 193109 will behave as an agonist, as a negative hormone or have no effect in a particular system will involve quantitative comparison of the magnitude of the effect in the presence and absence of AGN 193109.

An example in which AGN 193109 potentiated the activity of a coadministered agonist would be a case in which AGN 193109 cotreatment with retinoic acid resulted in a level of X mRNA expression that is further repressed relative to the level measured in cells treated with retinoic add alone. More specifically, comparison of the dose response curve of the biological effect (i.e., repression of X mRNA abundance) plotted on the Y-axis versus the dose of the agonist (logarithmic scale) on the X-axis would allow comparison of agonist-mediated repression of X mRNA abundance in the presence and absence of AGN 193109 cotreatment. The ability of AGN 193109 to sensitize the biological response to the agonist, thereby potentiating the activity of the agonist, will be indicated by a leftward shift in the dose response curve. More specifically, in the presence of AGN 193109 less agonist would be required to obtain the same biological effect obtainable using the agonist alone.

An example of AGN 193109 mediating antagonism of a coadministered agonist would be a case in which AGN 193109 cotreatment with retinoic acid resulted in a level of X mRNA expression that is less repressed compared to that measured in cells treated with retinoic acid alone. Comparison of dose response curves of X mRNA repression versus log dose of agonist in the presence and absence of AGN 193109 will demonstrate a shift to the right in the dose response curve. More specifically, in the presence of AGN 193109, more agonist will be necessary to obtain the same biological effect obtainable with single agent treatment with the agonist alone.

The above examples wherein AGN 193109 mediates either antagonism or potentiation describe experimental outcomes for coadministration of AGN 193109 with a retinoid agonist. If, however, the agonist coadministered with AGN 193109 is an agonist capable of binding and activating a member of the steroid receptor superfamily other than an RAR, then instead of antagonizing the agonist, it becomes possible that AGN 193109 would have no effect on the activity of the agonist. If AGN 193109 cotreatment with such an agonist results in a level of mRNA expression which is equal to that measured in cells treated with agonist alone, then AGN 193109's ability to affect the availability of NCPs via promotion of RAR:NCP associations will be silent in this system. This would be an example wherein AGN 193109 has no effect on a coadministered agonist.

Example of Antagonism

The method disclosed in the above generalized example for determining the effect of AGN 193109 coadministered with a retinoid agonist is exemplified by the procedure described under Example 7. CV-1 cells cotransfected with one of the three retinoic acid receptors and the retinoid agonist inducible MTV-TREp-Luc reporter construct were dosed with either ethanol (control, group 1), AGN 193109 at final concentrations of from 10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁶ M (group 2), AGN 193109 at final concentrations of from 10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁶ M coadministered with retinoic acid at 10⁻⁸ M (group 3), or retinoic acid (10⁻⁸ M, group 4). Comparison of the luciferase activity of group 1 with that of group 4 allowed determination of the level of retinoid agonist induced expression of the luciferase reporter gene in the absence of added AGN 193109. Comparison of luciferase reporter gene expression in cells of group 3 with that measured in cells of group 4 indicated that AGN 193109 behaved as an antagonist of the retinoid agonist in this system.

Example of Antagonism

The method disclosed in the generalized example for determining the effect of AGN 193109 coadministered with a retinoid agonist was similarly used to determine in Example 17 that AGN 193109 functioned as an antagonist of a retinoid agonist-mediated repression of EGF-stimulated cellular proliferation in ECE-16-1 transformed cervical epithelial cells. In this procedure, treatments of ECE-16-1 cells included a control sample treated with EGF alone (group 1), a sample treated with the combination of EGF and AGN 193109 at a final concentration of 10⁻⁶ M (group 2), a sample treated with the combination of EGF and AGN 193109 at final concentrations of from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁶ M coadministered with a single dose of the retinoid agonist AGN 191183 at 10⁻⁸ M (group 3), and a sample treated with the combination of EGF and AGN 191183 at 10⁻⁸ M (group 4). After three days of treatment, cellular proliferation rates were determined. Determination that the cells had been stimulated to proliferate by EGF was possible because an additional control treatment was included wherein cells were exposed to defined medium that did not contain EGF. Comparison of the number of cells in group 1 with the number of cells in group 4 allowed for determination that RAR agonist AGN 191183 repressed the EGF-stimulated proliferation of ECE-16-1 cells. Comparison of group 3 with group 4 indicated that AGN 193109 antagonized the activity of the RAR agonist in this system.

Example of Potentiation

The method disclosed in the generalized example for determining the effect of AGN 193109 coadministered with a retinoid agonist was also used in Example 14 to determine that AGN 193109 potentiated the activity of a nuclear receptor agonist in HeLa cells transfected with the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ inducible MTV-VDRE-Luc reporter gene. Treatments of transfected cells included vehicle alone (control, group 1), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ at final concentrations of from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁷ M (group 2), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ at final concentrations of from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁷ M coadministered with AGN 193109 at a final concentration of either 10⁻⁸ or 10⁻⁷ M (group 3), and AGN 193109 as a single agent treatment at a final concentration of either 10⁻⁸ or 10⁻⁷ M (group 4). Comparison of the luciferase activity measured in group 1 (control) cells with that of group 2 cells allowed for determination that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ stimulated luciferase activity was dose-dependent. Comparison of luciferase activity measured in cells of group 4 (AGN 193109 single agent treatment) with that measured in cells of group 3 (AGN 193109 coadministration) similarly allowed for determination of dose-dependent 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ stimulated luciferase activity in the presence of a given concentration of AGN 193109. In this instance, the zero value represented the luciferase activity in cells treated with AGN 193109 alone (group 4). Such a dosing regimen allowed for comparison of three 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ dose response curves. Comparison of the dose response curve of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ in the absence of AGN 193109 with the curve representing coadministration of AGN 193109 (either 10⁻⁸ or 10⁻⁷ M) demonstrated potentiation of the agonist activity as evidenced by a leftward shift in the half-maximal response.

Example of Potentiation

The method disclosed in the generalized example for determining the effect of AGN 193109 coadministered with a retinoid agonist was further used to determine in Example 19 that AGN 193109 potentiated the antiproliferative activity of an RAR agonist in primary cultures of human retinal pigment epithelium cell. Treatments of cells included: ethanol vehicle alone (group 1), retinoic acid at final concentrations of from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁶ M (group 2), retinoic acid at final concentrations of from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁶ M coadministered with 10⁻⁶ M AGN 193109 (group 3), and AGN 193109 alone at final concentrations of from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁶ M (group 4). Comparison of assay results obtained using cells of groups 1 and 2 allowed for determination of the dose dependent inhibition of proliferation of these cells by retinoic acid. Similarly, comparison of results obtained using cells of group 3 with those of group 1 allowed for determination of the dose dependent inhibition of proliferation of these cells by retinoic acid in the presence of coadministered AGN 193109. Group 4 demonstrated the inability of AGN 193109 to substantially alter the proliferation rate of these cells when used as a single treatment agent. Comparison of the dose response curves of retinoic acid mediated repression of cellular proliferation generated in groups 2 and 3 provided the basis for the conclusion that AGN 193109 sensitized primary RPE cells to the antiproliferative effects of the RAR agonist, thereby potentiating the activity of the RAR agonist.

As indicated above, Agarwal et al., in Cancer Res. 54:2108 (1994)), showed that CaSki cell growth, unlike the growth of HPV immortalized ECE-16-1 cells, was not inhibited by treatment with retinoid agonists. As disclosed herein, we unexpectedly found that CaSki cell growth was inhibited by AGN 193109 in the absence of a retinoid agonist. The following Example illustrates how AGN 193109 can be used to inhibit the growth of CaSki cell tumors in vivo.

EXAMPLE 22 Inhibition of CaSki Cell Tumor Growth in Nude Mice Following Administration of AGN 193109

1×10⁶ CaSki cells are injected into each of a panel of nude mice. Tumor formation is assessed using techniques that will be familiar to one having ordinary skill in the art. After injection, mice we randomly divided into control and test groups. The control group receives a placebo. The test group is administered with AGN 193109. Animals administered with the placebo receive intragastric intubation of corn oil. The test animals receive 20 μMol/kg AGN 193109 in corn oil daily for the period of the treatment. Tumor volume is measured in cubic milliliters using graduated calipers. Tumor volume is plotted as function of time. Mice receiving AGN 193109 exhibit tumors which are significantly reduced in their growth rate as compared to tumors in control mice as judged by tumor size and number over the period of the study. This result provides an in vivo demonstration that AGN 193109 inhibits the growth of an advanced cervical carcinoma that is resistant to therapy comprising administration of a retinoid agonist.

As indicated above, CaSki cells are a model of cervical tumors that are not responsive to retinoid agonist therapy. However, herein we have disclosed that CaSki cell growth was inhibited by AGN 193109 in the absence of treatment with a retinoid agonist. The ability of AGN 193109 to inhibit the proliferation of CaSki cells suggested that AGN 193109 could be used to therapeutically treat cervical carcinomas that are insensitive to retinoid agonist therapy. The following Example illustrates one method that can be used to assess the therapeutic potential of AGN 193109 in the treatment of a cervical carcinoma.

EXAMPLE 23 Assessing the Therapeutic Potential of AGN 193109 in Patients Having Cervical Carcinoma

A patient presenting with an advanced cervical carcinoma is first identified. A cervical biopsy is obtained according to methods that will be familiar to one having ordinary skill in the art. Cells from the explanted tumor are propagated in tissue culture according to standard techniques to provide cell numbers sufficient to allow division into three sample groups. Culture conditions described by Agarwal et al. in Cancer Res. 54:2108 (1994) are employed for this purpose. The first group is reserved as a control and receives vehicle alone (ethanol). The second group is treated with the RAR agonist retinoic acid at a concentration of from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁶ M. The third group is treated with AGN 193109 at doses ranging from 10⁻¹⁰ to 10⁻⁶ M. Cells are fed with fresh growth medium daily and are provided with the retinoids described above as appropriate for each sample group. Cells are counted after three days using an electric cell counter. Comparison of the number of cells in control cultures with the number of cells in retinoic acid treated cultures indicates the RAR agonist does not substantially inhibit the growth rate of the cultured cervical carcinoma cells. In contrast, cells treated with AGN 193109 exhibit a dose-dependent decrease in cell number when compared with cell counts in the control group. This result, wherein AGN 193109 treatment inhibits cultured cervical carcinoma cell proliferation, indicates that AGN 193109 will be a useful therapeutic agent for treating cervical carcinoma patients having metastatic disease.

Cervical carcinoma patients having undergone surgery for the removal of primary tumors and who present with metastatic disease are enlisted in a randomized clinical study seeking to demonstrate the therapeutic benefit of AGN 193109 in this indication. Patients are divided into two groups. The first group is a control group while members of the second group are treated with AGN 193109. AGN 193109 is combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient to produce a composition suitable for systemic administration, all according to techniques that will be familiar to one having ordinary skill in the art. The control group is administer a placebo formulation and the experimental group is administered with the formulation containing the AGN 193109 negative hormone. Dosing of patients is at the maximum tolerated dose and is performed every other day for a period of from three months to one year. The outcome of the study is quantified via measurement of disease-free survival over time. Individuals receiving AGN 193109 display a significant increase in disease-free survival, including a disproportionate number of patients displaying complete remission of their metastatic disease. This result indicates that AGN 193109 has therapeutic utility for in vivo treatment of cervical carcinomas that are unresponsive to the antiproliferative effects of retinoid agonists, such as retinoic acid.

As disclosed above, AGN 193109 potentiated the antiproliferative activity of RAR agonists in primary cultures of human retinal pigment epithelium cells. Accordingly, coadministration of AGN 193109 with an RAR agonist in vivo is reasonably expected to increase the therapeutic index of the agonist because a lesser amount of the RAR agonist will be required to obtain the same therapeutic endpoint. Additionally, AGN 193109 has been demonstrated to sensitize primary cultures of human retinal pigment epithelium cells to the antiproliferative effects of glucocorticoid and thyroid hormone receptor agonists. The following rabbit model of PVR will be utilized in two separate studies to demonstrate the increased therapeutic index obtained via coadministration of AGN 193109 with an RAR agonist (13-cis retinoic acid) or a thyroid hormone receptor agonist, respectively. Notably, the rabbit model of retinal redetachment published by Sen et al. in Arch Opthalmol. 106:1291 (1988), has been used to demonstrate that retinoid agonists which inhibit proliferation of primary RPE cells in vitro also inhibit the frequency of retinal detachment in vivo (Araiz et al. Invest. Opthalmol. 34:522 (1993)). Thus, with respect to their use as therapeutics in the prevention of retinal detachment, a correlation between the in vitro and in vivo activities of retinoid agonists has already been established. The following Examples illustrate how AGN 193109 can be used in therapeutic applications directed at preventing retinal detachment.

EXAMPLE 24 Use of AGN 193109 to Increase the Therapeutic Potential of Steroid-Superfamily Receptor Agonists in the Treatment of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy (PVR)

In a first study, human RPE cells are injected into the vitreous cavity of rabbit eyes according to the method described by Sen et al. in Arch. Opthalmol. 106:1291 (1988). After intravitreal injection, the rabbits are divided into five groups. The first group (control) will receive vehicle alone by intravitreal injection. The second group receives retinoic acid as single agent treatment (100 μg) by intravitreal injection. The third group receives AGN 193109 as a single agent treatment (100 μg) by intravitreal injection. The fourth group receives by intravitreal injection the RAR agonist (retinoic acid) at a dose one-tenth the amount administered to group 2 (10 μg). The fifth group receives the combination of AGN 193109 (100 μg) and retinoic acid (10 μg) by intravitreal injection. Animals receive a single intravitreal injection of the appropriate treatment one day after intravitreal injection of human RPE cells. Rabbits are examined by indirect ophthalmoscopy on days 7, 14 and 28and are graded for the frequency and severity of tractional retinal detachment. Rabbits from the group injected with 100 μg retinoic acid exhibit a significantly reduced frequency and severity of retinal detachment compared to controls rabbits or rabbits receiving either AGN 193109 or retinoic acid (10 μg) alone. Rabbits in the group administered with the combination of AGN 193109 and retinoic acid (10 μg) exhibit significantly reduced frequency and severity of retinal detachment as compared to those in groups either control, AGN 193109 or retinoic acid (10 μg). This result demonstrates that AGN 193109 improves the therapeutic index of the RAR agonist retinoic acid in an in vivo model of PVR.

In a second study, rabbits are first provided with an injection of human RPE cells into the vitreous cavity of the eye, and then divided into four groups. The first group (control) receives vehicle alone by intravitreal injection. The second group receives thyroid hormone as single agent treatment (100 μg) by intravitreal injection. The third group is administered with AGN 193109 as a single agent treatment (100 μg) by intravitreal injection. The fourth group is administered with the combination of AGN 193109 (100 μg) and thyroid hormone (100 μg). Rabbits are examined by indirect ophthalmoscopy on days 7, 14 and 28, and graded for the frequency and severity of tractional retinal detachment. Comparison of the frequency and severity of retinal detachment in the four groups demonstrates that single agent treatment with either AGN 193109 or thyroid hormone does not inhibit retinal detachment when compared with control rabbits. In contrast, the group of rabbits administered with the combination of AGN 193109 and thyroid hormone exhibit significantly reduced incidence and severity of retinal detachment. This result demonstrates that AGN 193109 improves the therapeutic index of thyroid hormone in an in vivo model of PVR.

The following Example illustrates how AGN 193109 can be used to enhance the therapeutic index of an RAR agonist used to treat human patients following retinal reattachment surgery.

EXAMPLE 25 Increasing the Therapeutic Index of RAR Agonist 13-cis Retinoic Acid

A population of adult volunteers having retinal detachment resulting from PVR is first identified. Individuals undergo surgical repair of the detachments using techniques that are standard in the art. The patients are then divided into five groups. The control group consists of patients who undergo surgical repair of the retinal detachment and do not receive any retinoid compound. The second group receives 40 mg oral 13-cis retinoic acid twice daily for four weeks postoperatively. The third group receives 40 mg oral AGN 103109 twice daily for four weeks postoperatively. The fourth group receives 4 mg oral 13-cis retinoic acid twice daily for four weeks postoperatively. The fifth group receives 40 mg oral AGN 193109 in combination with 4 mg oral 13-cis retinoic acid twice daily for four weeks postoperatively. The treatment protocol and assessment of drug efficacy is performed essentially as described by Fekrat et al. in Ophthalmology 102:412 (1995).

The frequency and severity of retinal redetachment in postoperative patients in all five groups is monitored over a period of nine months using ophthalmologic examination techniques that will be familiar to those of ordinary skill in the art. Patients receiving 40 mg oral 13-cis retinoic acid exhibit significantly reduced incidence of retinal redetachment when compared with control patients, patients receiving 4 mg oral 13-cis retinoic acid twice daily or patients receiving 40 mg oral AGN 193109 twice daily. Examination of the patient group receiving the combination of 40 mg oral AGN 193109 and 4 mg oral 13-cis retinoic acid twice daily for four weeks postoperatively demonstrates the therapeutic outcome in this patient group is equal to or better than those patients receiving 40 mg oral 13 cis retinoic acid twice daily for four weeks postoperatively. This result demonstrates that the AGN 193109 negative hormone improves the therapeutic index of an RAR agonist by virtue of decreasing the frequency and severity of retinal redetachment in PVR patients.

Generalized Assay for Identifying Nuclear Receptor Negative Hormones

We have demonstrated above that AGN 193109 can function as a negative hormone capable of repressing the basal transcriptional activity of RAR nuclear receptors. Further, we have described an assay using CV-1 cells co-transfected with the ERE-tk-Luc luciferase reporter plasmid and the ER-RXR-α and RAR-γ-VP-16 receptor expression plasmids for distinguishing RAR ligands that are simple antagonists from those having negative hormone activity.

We have concluded that RAR negative hormones mediate repression of RAR-mediated transcriptional activity by promoting increased interaction between the RAR and NCPs. Further, we have demonstrated that AGN 193109 can potentiate the effects of agonists of other nuclear receptors in a manner consistent with the mutual sharing of NCPs between members of the steroid superfamily of nuclear receptor. As such, ligands can be designed and screened to identify compounds having negative hormone activity at these non-RAR nuclear receptors.

Our method of RAR negative hormone screening based on the use of CV-1 cells co-transfected with the ERE-tk-Luc luciferase reporter plasmid and the ER-RXR-α and RAR-γ-VP-16 receptor expression plasmids can be adapted generally such that the RAR-γ moiety of the RAR-γ-VP-16 plasmid is converted to that of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR), vitamin D receptor (VDR), thyroid hormone receptor (T3R) or any other steroid superfamily nuclear receptor capable of heterodimerizing with RXR. CV-1 cells co-transfected with such plasmids would express high basal levels of luciferase activity. Ligands capable of binding the ligand binding domain of the receptor substituted for the RAR-γ moiety can be easily screened for negative hormone activity by measuring their ability to repress luciferase activity.

For steroid superfamily nuclear receptors that do not heterodimerize with RXR (e.g., glucocorticoid and estrogen receptors) the sane end result can be achieved using GR-VP-16 or ER-VP-16 receptors and a luciferase reporter plasmid consisting of the appropriate glucocorticoid or estrogen response element fused to a heterologous promoter element and luciferase or other reporter gene. An essential feature of a generalized negative hormone screening assay is the inclusion of at least the ligand binding domain of the particular nuclear receptor for which inverse agonists are to be screened and a method for localizing the nuclear receptor ligand binding domain to the promoter of a reporter gene. This could be achieved using the receptors's natural DNA binding site, or alternatively by construction of a chimeric receptor having a heterologous DNA binding domain and corresponding use of a reporter gene which is under control of a DNA regulatory element which is recognized by the heterologous DNA binding domain. In a preferred embodiment, the plasmid expressing the nuclear receptor for which inverse agonists are to be screened would express this nuclear receptor as a fusion protein containing a constitutive activation domain, such as the HSV VP-16 activation domain, in order to provide high basal activity. This high basal activity would effectively increase assay sensitivity, thereby allowing analysis of nuclear receptor ligands which repress basal transcriptional activity in the absence of added nuclear receptor agonist.

The following Example illustrates one method that can be used to screen for compounds having negative hormone activity at the thyroid hormone receptor.

EXAMPLE 26 Method of Identifying Thyroid Hormone Receptor Negative Hormones

CV-1 cells are co-transfected with the luciferase reporter plasmid ERE-tk-Luc and the plasmids ER-RXR-α and T3R-VP-16. T3R-VP-16 is identical to the plasmid RAR-γ-VP-16, except the RAR-γ moiety of RAR-γ-VP-16 has been substituted by the thyroid hormone receptor cDNA. As such, T3R-VP-16 expresses a fusion protein containing the activation domain of HSV VP-16 in frame with the N-terminus of the thyroid hormone receptor. Standard transfection and cell culture methods are employed for this purpose. After transfection, cells are rinsed and fed with growth medium containing 10% fetal calf serum which has been extracted with activated charcoal. Cells are treated with vehicle alone (ethanol), thyroid hormone (10⁻⁹ to 10⁻¹⁰ M), or compound TR-1 (10⁻⁹ to 10⁻⁶ M). TR-1 is a synthetic thyroid hormone receptor ligand which exhibits strong affinity for the thyroid hormone receptor in competition binding studies, but which does not activate transfected thyroid hormone receptor in transient cotransfection transactivation assays using a thyroid hormone responsive reporter gene and a thyroid hormone receptor expression plasmid. Further, TR-1 is capable of antagonizing thyroid hormone mediated transactivation and as such is a thyroid receptor antagonist.

Analysis of luciferase activity from CV-1 cell transfected with ERE-tk-Luc, ER-RXRα and T3R-VP-16 demonstrates a high basal level of luciferase reporter activity in vehicle-treated cells. Cells treated with thyroid hormone show a slight increase of luciferase activity in a dose dependent manner. Cells treated with TR-1 exhibit a dose dependent decrease in luciferase activity. This indicates that TR-1 exhibits thyroid receptor inverse agonist activity, presumably due to the increased interaction of a NCP with the thyroid hormone receptor.

The proliferation rate of human primary retinal pigment epithelium cells is repressed by treatment with RAR agonists. The therapeutic value of this observation has been demonstrated in postoperative use retinoid therapy after retinal reattachment surgery. We have above demonstrated the AGN 193109 RAR negative hormone can sensitize primary RPE cells to the antiproliferative effect of ATRA and 13-cis retinoic acid in coadministration procedures. Further, AGN 193109 was also shown to sensitize RPE cells to the antiproliferative effects of other nuclear receptor agonists. More specifically, AGN 193109 sensitized RPE cells to the antiproliferative effects of the glucocorticoid agonist, dexamethasone, and the thyroid hormone agonist 3,3′,5-triiodothyronine, T3. This data was consistent with our working model wherein AGN 193109 modulated the availability of NCPs that were shared between the members of the nuclear receptor family. Treatment of RPE cells with the thyroid hormone receptor inverse agonist TR-1 will similarly alter the availability of shared NCPs such that coadministration with a non-thyroid receptor agonist, such as the RAR agonist 13-cis retinoic acid will lead to an increased antiproliferative effect upon the RPE cultures as compared to 13-cis retinoic acid as a single agent treatment.

The following Example illustrates one method that can be used to render primary RPE cells more sensitive to the antiproliferative activity of an RAR agonist. Notably, this Example further illustrates how the activity of RAR agonists can be potentiated by coadministration with a negative hormone.

EXAMPLE 27 Sensitizing Primary Retinal Pigment Epithelium Cells to the Antiproliferative Effects of RAR Agonists by Coadministration of the TR-1 Thyroid Hormone Inverse Agonist

Human primary RPE cells are obtained and cultured according to standard methods. The cultured cells are divided into four groups and treated as follows. Group 1 receives vehicle alone (ethanol). Group 2 is treated with 13-cis retinoic acid at concentrations ranging from 10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁶ M. Group 3 is treated with the thyroid hormone inverse agonist TR-1 at concentrations ranging from 10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻¹ M. Group 4 is co-treated with 13-cis retinoic acid at concentrations ranging from 10⁻¹¹ to 10⁻⁶ M TR-1. Cells are refed with fresh growth medium and re-treated with the appropriate compound every two days for a total of five days of treatment. The proliferation rate over the duration of the experiment is quantitated via measurement of the cell number in the cultures using an electric cell counter.

TR-1 treated cells (Group 3) exhibits rates of cellular proliferation which are essentially the same as control (Group 1) cells and there is no effect of this inverse agonist upon the measured growth rate of the cultures. Cells treated with 13-cis retinoic acid (Group 2) exhibit a dose dependent decrease in cell number. Comparison of the dose dependent decrease in cellular proliferation of Group 4 cells (13-cis RA and TR-1 coadministration) with that obtained in Group 3 demonstrates the ability of TR-1 thyroid hormone receptor inverse agonist coadministration to sensitize RPE cultures to the antiproliferative effect of 13-cis retinoic acid as measured by the shift in the dose response curve of this RAR agonist to the left in Group 4 as compared to Group 2 cells.

Methods of Identifying Negative Hormones: RAR/Corepressor Binding Assays

All trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a hormone that binds and transactivates RARα, RAR-β and RAR-δ, members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. Ligand binding results in coordinated changes in the associations of the RAR with various cofactors. In the absence of hormone, RAR-α associates with corepressor molecules such as N-CoR and SMRT (Horlein et al., Nature 377:397 (1995); Chen et al., Nature 377:454 (1995)). Upon hormone binding, these associations are disrupted in favor of new interactions between the RAR and coactivator molecules such as CBP, p300, SRC-1 (Kamei et al., Cell 85:1 (1996); Chakravarti et al., Nature 383:99 (1996)). Kinetic models for ligand-mediated receptor transactivation have described transcriptionally repressed receptors in the absence of hormone, due to interaction between receptor and corepressor association, followed by derepression and activation upon hormone addition.

However, as indicated above, we have presented evidence that supports the view that interactions between receptor and corepressor proteins may be more dynamic than such models would suggest. More particularly, we have obtained evidence showing that RAR and the corepressor interactions are governed by an equilibrium, and that certain ligands actually can stabilize or promote associations between the RAR and the corepressor. We developed this model after unexpectedly finding that a unique subgroup of RAR antagonists actually lowered basal activity in a transactivation assays employing chimeric receptors engineered to exhibit artificially elevated basal activity.

We recently have identified novel synthetic RAR ligands called “negative hormones” or “inverse agonists” (Klein et al., J. Biol. Chem. 37:22692 (1996)). These ligands are effective antagonists of ATRA mediated transactivation and potently repress the basal transcriptional activity of receptors encoded by transfected constructs.

In view of the novel mechanism underlying their mode of action, we investigated whether the trans-repression activity of the RAR negative hormones resulted from recruitment of corepressor to the receptor. Below we demonstrate that the interaction between RAR-γ and the corepressor N-CoR was increased by a retinoid negative hormone using both in vitro and in vivo experimental systems. Further, we demonstrate that transrepression of a constitutively active RAR-γ-VP-16 receptor required a functional receptor CoR box. This finding further proved that functional, physical interaction between RAR and the corepressor was required for efficient transrepression. Therefore, association between RAR and corepressor can be positively and negatively modulated by ligands.

Recruitment of corepressor molecules to retinoid receptors by negative hormones mediates some of the biological effects observed for these unique compounds. With the recent discovery that nuclear receptor corepressors are functionally linked to a repression complex which possesses a characteristic enzymatic activity (histone deacetylation) that can alter chromatin packing, accessibility of transcription factors to DNA and ultimately regulation of gene expression, our novel finding that RAR negative hormones can recruit corepressors, including the repression complex, (and so histone deacetylase enzyme), to nuclear receptors suggests that retinoid negative hormones can influence gene expression in ways that were previously unpredictable. The findings presented herein permit a previously unknown method for regulating gene expression through the therapeutic administration of retinoid negative hormones. Additionally, our elucidation of how nuclear receptors other than RAR and RXR can also be activated to either enhance or repress the expression of a particular gene through the action of retinoid-recruitable co-repressors and co-activators permits the design of drugs and methods of using such drugs so as to exploit such selectivity.

In a particular line of experiments described above we showed that negative hormones could repress the elevated basal activity of RAR-γ-VP16 in the absence of an agonist. To explain this finding, we proposed that negative hormones operate by promoting or recruiting negative cofactors to the nuclear receptor, thereby stabilizing the receptor in a conformation that does not promote transcription.

Subsequent to our prediction, corepressor molecules were identified (Horlein et al., Nature 377:397 (1995); Chen et al., Nature 377:454 (1995)) and shown to interact with the RARs and other members of the nuclear receptor superfamily. With the availability of these corepressors, we were able to test our hypothesis that binding of RAR negative hormones to the RAR leads to the recruitment of corepressor molecules to the receptor.

Additional information published subsequent to the disclosure made herein reinforced the findings we have made with regard to nuclear receptors in general. For example, Jackson et al., Mol. Endocrinol. 11:693 (1997) report that modulators of the estrogen receptor, such as tamoxifen, and of the progesterone receptor, such as RU486, have their activity enhanced through interaction with an apparent co-activator: L7/SPA, resulting in transactivation of the steroid receptor-controlled genes. Additionally, expression of the cloned co-repressors N-CoR and SMRT (silencing mediator of retinoic acid and thyroid hormone receptors) were found to suppress the RU486 and tamoxifen-induced partial agonist activity by more than 90%. This reference is incorporated by reference herein as part of the present disclosure.

In another report, Smith et al., Mol. Endocrinol. 11:657 (1997) discuss the ability of cloned SRC-1 (steroid receptor coactivator) and SMRT to modulate the activity of the “mixed” antiestrogen 4 hydoxytamoxifen upon the estrogen receptor. This molecule is able to inhibit estrogen receptor-mediated transcription in a cell-specific manner, and even activate transcription under certain circumstances. The SRC-1 protein appeared to cause greater than normal transcription of the estrogen receptor when the ligands were estradiol or 4-HT. An excess of the SMRT protein expressed within the cell reduced both basal and 4-HT-stimulated transcription, without effect on estradiol-stimulated transcription. Moreover, when coexpressed, SMRT was able to block SRC-1 activation of the receptor and inhibit 4-HT agonist activity in the presence of SRC-1. These proteins were shown to bind directly to the estrogen receptor. This reference is incorporated by reference herein as part of the present disclosure.

Thus, just as suggested by the Applicants of the present application, the intracellular balance of co-repressor and co-activator can modulate the tissue specificity of nuclear receptor mediated gene transcription; in this case gene expression under the control of the estrogen and progesterone nuclear receptor. These publications thus provide support for the generality of the disclosed approach for therapeutic compositions and methods, and for the screening of inverse agonists of members of the nuclear receptor superfamily beyond the retinoid receptors.

As a demonstration of the interaction between receptor and corepressor in the retinoid receptor system, the following Example describes experiments that measured the interaction between radiolabeled in vitro translated N-CoR and bacterially expressed GST-RAR-γ fusion protein immobilized to glutathione agarose in the presence of vehicle alone, TTNPB (agonist) or AGN 193109 (negative hormone). As indicated below, our results proved that an RAR negative hormone promoted binding between the nuclear receptor corepressor and RAR-γ. Example 28 describes the methods used to make this demonstration.

EXAMPLE 28 Retinoid Negative Hormone Facilitates Interaction Between Corepressor (N-CoR and RAR-γ In Vitro

Bacterially expressed glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-RAR-γ fusion protein was expressed from a plasmid vector harboring a polynucleotide that encoded full length human RAR-γ (amino acids 1-454). The RAR-γ polynucleotide was inserted in-frame, into the plasmid pGEX-KN (Pharmacia, Piscataway N.J.) via PCR-mediated introduction of NotI and BamHI restriction sites into the RAR-γ cDNA (Ishikawa et al., Mol. Endocrinol. 4:837 (1990)) to result in the plasmid, pGEX-KN-RAR-γ. The plasmid pBKS-N-CoR-C′, useful for in vitro transcription-translation of the C-terminus of N-CoR (amino acids 1629-2453), has been described by Horlein et al., in Nature 377:397 (1995).

The GST-RAR-γ fusion protein encoded by pGEX-KN-RAR-γ was expressed in BL-21 bacteria (Stratagene, La Jolla Calif.) following induction of the bacterial culture with 5 mM IPTG for 3 hours at room temperature. Bacteria were lysed in PBS-T (phosphate buffered saline, 1.0% TRITON-X-100, 2 mM EDTA, 0.1% β-mercaptoethanol, 0.2 mM PMSF, 5.0 mM benzamidine, 5 ug/ml leupeptin and 5 ug/ml aprotinin) and centrifuged at 10,000×g for 30 minutes. The resulting supernatant was mixed with an equal volume of glycerol and stored at −80° C. until further use. In vitro transcription-translation of 35 S-radiolabeled N-CoR-C′ (amino acids 1629-2453) from the plasmid pBKS-N-CoR-C′ (Horlein et al., Nature 377:397 (1995)) was performed using ³⁵S-methionine (Amersham) and T-N-T coupled transcription-translation lysates (Promega, Madison Wis.) following manufacturer's instructions.

To study protein-protein interactions, GST-RAR-γ bacterial supernatant was incubated with 50 μl of glutathione-agarose beads (Sigma, St. Louis Mo.) in PBS-T. Beads were washed three times in 1 ml of PBS-T and twice in 1 ml CHAPs buffer (8 mM Tris-Phosphate pH 7.4, 120 mM KCI, 8% glycerol, 4 mM DTT, 0.5% CHAPs (Sigma)). Beads were resuspended in 500 μl CHAPs buffer and 50 μl aliquots were separately combined with 145 μl CHAPs buffer, 2 μl of 10% BSA, and 2 μl of a 10⁴ M solution of AGN 193109, TTNPB or vehicle alone (to give 1 μM final concentrations of each compound). Compounds were allowed to bind to bacterially expressed GST-RAR-γ for 30 minutes on ice. One μl of in vivo translated [³⁵S]-N-CoRC′ was added to each mixture and the tubes were incubated for 20 minutes at either 20° C., 30° C. or 37° C. Tubes were placed on ice and beads were washed three times with 1 ml cold CHAPs buffer. Bound proteins were eluted by boiling in 20 μl SDS-PAGE loading buffer, electrophoresed through a 8% polyacrylamide gel, and visualized by autoradiography. Quantitation of bound protein was performed using a phosphoimager (Molecular Dynamics).

Autoradiographic results from these procedures indicated that an RAR negative hormone promoted interaction between a nuclear receptor corepressor and RAR-γ in vitro. More particularly, the autoradiogram displayed an approximately 100 kDa protein band that was consistent with the expected size of the C-terminal N-CoR polypeptide (amino acids 1629-2453). Since the protein detected in this band was eluted from the GST-RAR-δ fusion protein bound to glutathione-agarose beads, this confirmed that we could reproduce the interaction between N-CoR and the RAR that previously had been reported previously (Horlein et al., Nature 377:397 (1995)). Lanes on the autoradiogram corresponding to samples that had been incubated at 20° C. indicated that binding of the TTNPB agonist to the RAR caused a 2.6 fold decrease in N-CoR binding, and was consistent with previous reports that agonist binding destabilizes the interaction between RAR and corepressor. In contrast, binding of the RAR negative hormone AGN 193109 resulted in a 1.6 fold increase in N-CoR binding to RAR-γ. Lanes on the autoradiograph that corresponded to samples incubated at 30° C. gave qualitatively similar results to those described already, with the magnitude of the ligand effects being increased. More particularly, TTNPB decreased N-CoR interaction with RAR by approximately 4.5 fold and AGN 193109 increased the interaction by approximately 2.2 fold. When incubations were performed at 37° C., the baseline interaction between RAR and N-CoR (vehicle alone) was destabilized relative to samples treated with vehicle alone at the lower incubation temperatures. However, treatment with AGN 193109 increased the interaction between RAR and N-CoR by approximately 20.5 fold, compared to vehicle alone.

These results indicated that assays which identified retinoids that enhanced the interaction between N-CoR and RAR-γ in vitro could be used for identifying negative hormones. Our results proved that an RAR negative hormone promoted interactions between the N-CoR nuclear receptor corepressor and RAR-γ, and that these interactions could be detected and quantitated using an in vitro protein-protein interaction assay. Thus, test compounds having effects similar to AGN 193109 in an assay such as that described above also would be classed as negative hormones.

The experiments described in the following Example also probed the interaction between a corepressor molecule and an RAR, using a yeast two-hybrid system (MATCHMAKER SYSTEM, Clontech, Palo Alto Calif.) in the presence or absence of a retinoid agonist and negative hormone. The yeast two-hybrid system used in our procedures comprised two yeast expression plasmids, called pAS2-1 and pAC2. Plasmid pAS2-1 was useful for expressing a protein of interest as a fusion with the DNA binding domain of the yeast transcription factor Gal-4. Plasmid pACT2 allowed for expression of a protein of interest as a fusion with the transactivation domain of Gal-4. The yeast two-hybrid system is an assay which measures physical interaction between fusion proteins carrying the Gal-4 DNA binding domain and the activation domain of Gal-4, upon the formation of a dimer, transcription from a Gal-4 responsive promoter will be activated.

The host for these plasmids was the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast strain Y190, which has integrated into its genome the β-galactosidase gene under transcriptional control of a Gal-4 responsive promoter. Accordingly, interaction of the fusion proteins expressed from these plasmids resulted in measurable β-galactosidase activity within the yeast host cell. Modulation of this interaction by compounds having affinity for one of two the fusion proteins could be monitored simply by measuring β-galactosidase activity.

Example 29 describes the methods used to demonstrate that negative hormones promoted interactions between N-CoR and RAR-α in vivo.

EXAMPLE 29 Retinoid Negative Hormone Facilitate Corepressor-RAR Interaction in a Yeast Two Hybrid Assay

Expression plasmid pAS-N-CoR, which encoded a chimeric protein that included the GAL-4 DNA binding domain fused to the full length N-CoR polypeptide, was constructed by introducing EcoRI sites immediately upstream of the initiator methionine codon of the N-CoR cDNA and downstream of the Apal site which is located at nucleotide position 403 (GenBank accession U35312). This procedure was carried out using PCR amplification of the cDNA which encoded the N-terminal portion of N-CoR. The 5′ oligonucleotide primer used in the reaction had the sequence

5′-TCTGTCGAATTCATGTCAAGTTCAGGTTATCCTCCC-3′(SEQ ID NO: 10), and the 3′ oligonucleotide primer had the sequence

5′-AGGCGAATTCGACTCCAGCGAGTCATGGTCCACC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 11). The resulting amplification product was inserted into the EcoRI site of the plasmid pAS2-1 (Clontech Labs, Palo Alto Calif.). The remaining N-CoR coding sequence was inserted into the plasmid using the internal ApaI and SaII sites located in the pAS2-1 polylinker. The plasmid pACT-RAR-γ was constructed via PCR mediated introduction of BamHI sites adjacent to the start and stop codons of the RAR-γ cDNA (Ishikawa et al., Mol. Endocrinol 4:837 (1990)) followed by insertion of the amplified fragment into the BamHI site of the plasmid pACT2 (Clonetech Labs). Both of the expression plasmids were introduced into Y190 cells using standard laboratory protocols. Assays for β-galactosidase were conducted for transformed yeast cells that had been treated with 1 μM AGN 193109 or TTNPB for approximately 24 hours.

Results of this procedure confirmed that a negative hormone (AGN 193109) promoted interaction between the N-CoR corepressor and RAR-γ in vivo. More particularly, treatment of cells containing the two-plasmid recombinant construct with the AGN 193109 negative hormone increased β-galactosidase activity in yeast that expressed the GAL-4 DBD-N-CoR and Gal-4 AD-RAR-γ fusion proteins. In contrast, treatment of these cells with the RAR agonist TTNPB did not lead to increased β-galactosidase activity. This in vivo result confirmed that binding of an RAR negative hormone to the RAR promoted a receptor conformation having an increased affinity for the corepressor. The results of triplicate experiments showing the extent of increased interaction of the RAR and the N-CoR fusion proteins by the negative hormone are shown below.

TABLE 13 Units of β-galactosidase activity Triplicate 1 Triplicate 2 Triplicate 3 Control (DMSO) 2.18 2.12 1.69 AGN 193109 5.91 4.43 4.15 TTNPB 2.26 1.83 1.96

These results also demonstrated that test compounds could be screened for negative hormone activity using in vivo assays. More particularly, retinoid compounds could be added to cultures of cells that express fusion proteins having separate corepressor and RAR subunits, wherein interaction between the subunits is detectable using an enzyme-based assay or a biological selection assay, such as a drug resistance assay. Compounds that promote interaction between the corepressor fusion protein and the RAR fusion protein will be identified as negative hormones.

We used mutagenized fusion proteins in the same type of yeast two hybrid assay to prove that the interactions detected in the β-galactosidase assay required interaction between the CoR box of the RAR. More particularly, we demonstrated that Y190 yeast cells harboring pAS-N-CoR and pACT-RAR-γ-AHT, a plasmid encoding an RAR mutant in the CoR box domain of the receptor, showed no effect on β-galactosidase expression following treatment with the negative hormone.

To confirm that the trans-repressive effect of AGN 193109 on the activity of RAR-γ-VP-16 was due to recruitment of a corepressor to the RAR, we mutated the CoR box of the RAR-γ in the RAR-γ-VP-16 fusion protein. The CoR box of the thyroid hormone receptor β and the functionally homologous domain of RARs have been demonstrated to be required for functional interaction between the corepressor N-CoR and these nuclear receptors (Horlein et al., Nature 377:397 (1995); Kurakawa et al., Nature 377:451 (1995)).

Example 30 describes the methods used to demonstrate that the AGN 193109 negative hormone-mediated reduction of basal transcriptional activity promoted by RAR-γ-VP-16 required a site on the RAR for contact with N-CoR.

EXAMPLE 30 An RAR Domain Required for Interaction of the RAR and the Corepressor also was Required for Trans-Repression of RAR-γ-VP-16 Activity by Negative Hormones

Construction of the plasmid RAR-γ-VP-16(AHT) was performed via digestion of the plasmid N-VP-16-RAR-γ (Nagpal et al., EMBO J 12:2349 (1993)) with SacI and EcoRV, removing the N-terminus of RAR-γ fused to the activation domain of VP16 as well as a portion of the RAR-γ cDNA which includes the CoR box. PCR mediated mutagenesis of the RAR-γ-CoR box was performed using the oligonucleotide (5′-AGAAGAGCTC ATCACCAAGG TCAGCAAAGG CGGTCAGGAG GCTTTCCCCTC-3′) (SEQ ID NO:12), the oligonucleotide (5′TAATGGATCC TGGTCAGGCT GGGGACTT-3′) (SEQ ID NO: 13), and RAR-γ cDNA as a template. The amplification reaction resulted in production of a DNA fragment that encoded the RAR-γ polypeptide in which amino acids Ala¹⁹⁶ His¹⁹⁷, Thr²⁰⁰ were mutated to Gly¹⁹⁶, Gly¹⁹⁷ and Ala²⁰⁰. Following digestion with SacI and EcoRV, the amplified fragment was inserted into the SacI and EcoRV digested plasmid N-VP-16-RAR-γ, whereupon insertion of the SacI fragment from N-VP-16RAR-γ, which encoded a fusion of the VP-16 domain and the N-terminus of RAR-γ, resulted in completion of plasmid RAR-γ-VP-16AHT. CV-1 cells were transiently transfected with the plasmids previously described for the RAR-γ-VP-16 assay, or alternatively the expression plasmid RAR-γ-VP-16 (AHT) in place of the plasmid RAR-γ-VP-16.

Results of these procedures confirmed that AGN 193109 caused transrepression of a luciferase reporter in cells transfected with RAR-γ-VP-16, as expected. In contrast, the high basal luciferase reporter activity in cells transfected with RAR-γ-VP-16-AHT was not repressed by treatment with this negative hormone. Therefore, trans-repression mediated by a retinoid negative hormone required functional interaction between the RAR and a corepressor.

Retinoids are known to inhibit expression of differentiation markers in cultured normal human keratinocytes (Saunders, et al., J. Biol Chem. 269:2016 (1994); Hohl et al., J Invest. Dermatol 104:902 (1995)) induced by confluence elevated calcium or stimulation with serun. We note that the differentiation-specific marker called MRP-8 also is known as calgranulin A. While expression of MRP-8 is not detectable in normal human skin, it is highly expressed in psoriatic epidermis and in cultured human keratinocytes differentiated with serum (Wilkinson et al., J. Cell Sci. 91:221 (1988); Kelly et al., J Pathol 159:17 (1989); Madesen et al., J. Invest. Dermatol 99:299 (1992)). The following Example describes the effect on MRP-8 protein expression in cultured human keratinocytes. As indicated below, results from these procedures indicated that treatment with an RAR agonist (TTNPB) or RAR negative hormone (AGN 193109) but not a neutral antagonist, repressed MRP-8 protein levels. Unexpectedly, simultaneous administration of agonist and negative hormone led to mutual exclusion of their effects, suggesting that they influence MRP-8 expression according to different mechanisms.

Example 31 describes the methods that were used to demonstrate that a negative hormone repressed MRP-8 protein levels in keratinocytes.

EXAMPLE 31 RAR Negative Hormone Function in Cultured Keratinocytes

Human foreskin keratinocytes (passage 3), prepared as described by Thacher et al. in Exp. Cell Res. 194:238 (1991), were maintained in keratinocyte growth medium (KGM) supplemented with 0.15 mM Ca²⁺ and hydrocortisone (1 uM). At 50-70% confluence, the media was changed to KGM without hydrocortisone. After 24 hours, cells were treated with 10% serum (charcoal extracted) and retinoids every day for 5 days. Control cultures were treated with 10% serum and vehicle alone (0.02% DMSO). Cell lysates were prepared in 300 μl of cell lysis buffer (10 mM Tris pH 8.0, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5 mg/ml PMSF, 0.5 ug/ml leupeptin and 2 ug/ml aprotinin) and centrifuged at 10,000×g for 10 minutes. 30 μg of lysate was subjected to SDS-PAGE and analyzed for MRP-8 protein by Western blotting using a monoclonal anti-MRP-8 antibody, CF-145 as a probe (Wilkinson et al., J. Cell Sci. 91:221 (1988)). Surprisingly, treatment of serum-differentiated human keratinocytes with the RAR negative hormone AGN 193109 repressed MRP-8 protein levels in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast to both RAR agonists and negative hormones, the neutral antagonist AGN 193109 did not repress MRP-8 expression. Further, the neutral antagonist AGN 193109 antagonizes the MRP-8 protein repression mediated by the RAR negative hormone AGN 193109 as well as that by the RAR agonist TTNPB.

Unexpectedly, simultaneous administration of TTNPB together with AGN 193109, which as single agent treatments repressed MRP-8 protein expression, resulted in mutual antagonism of MRP-8 repression. Thus, a retinoid negative hormone and a retinoid agonist both mediated repression of MRP-8 through apparently different mechanisms. Significantly, these different mechanisms were mutually exclusive in this system. As such, the negative hormone pathway represents a novel means for regulating gene expression and is distinct from the mechanism by which “classical” agonists operate to influence MRP-9 expression.

Our results have demonstrated that an RAR negative hormone binds to the ligand binding domain of an RAR and results in a conformational change in the receptor such that there is a measurable increase in the apparent affinity of the receptor for the N-CoR compressor molecule. This corepressor is associated with other cellular proteins in a “repression complex” that includes at least N-CoR, mSin3A, mSin3b and HDAC-1 (formerly designated HD-1) (Heinzel et al., Nature 387:43 (1997); Alland et al., Nature 387:49 (1997); Nagy et al., Cell 89:373 (1997)). Mammalian homologs of the yeast repressor molecule Sin3 (i.e. mSin3a and 3b) have been cloned based on their interaction with the mammalian repressor protein Mad in a yeast 2-hybrid interaction screen (Ayer et al., Cell 80:767 (1995)). Histone deacetylase I (HDAC-1) is a catalytic subunit of a complex capable of deacetylation of core histones for which the encoding cDNA has been recently identified (Taunton et al., Science 272:408 (1996)). Therefore, repression mediated by N-CoR interaction with the RAR involves a complex of interacting factors, wherein the complex includes a histone deacetylase activity.

It has been established that the complex organization of DNA and protein in chromatin is under control of a variety of processes that include histone acetylation and deacetylation (Wolffe, Nature 387:16 (1995)). The N-terminal tails of core histones H3 and H4 are post-translationally modified via transfer of acetyl groups to the amino groups of lysine residues. Such acetylation has been correlated with gene expression and access of the chromatin to transcription factors. Deacetylation of core histones is correlated with inaccessibility and decreased gene expression.

Enzymatic histone deacetylase activity is measurable in cellular extracts, and a cDNA encoding a polypeptide exhibiting this enzymatic activity (HDAC-1) has been cloned as indicated above. Further, use of and-N-CoR antibodies to co-immunoprecipitate cellular proteins have indicated that the HDAC-1 polypeptide associates with the corepressor (Heinzel et al., Nature 387:43 (1997)). Immunoprecipitated complexes have measurable histone deacetylase activity.

We speculated that, since RAR negative hormones could recruit corepressor to the RAR and since a histone deacetylase was a component of the repression complex that included the corepressor, it would be possible to identify compounds having negative hormone activity based on the ability of the compound to promote formation of the complex that included the deacetylase. Thus, it would be possible to identify negative hormones from among a group of test compounds based on the ability of negative hormones to increase histone deacetylase activity associated with the receptor. Accordingly, measurement of an increase in histone deacetylase activity associated with the RAR, in a ligand dependent manner, would represent yet another method for screening compounds for negative hormone activity. The following Example describes how a deacetylase assay can be used to identify negative hormones.

Example 32 describes methods that can be used to identify retinoid negative hormones based on their ability to promote formation of multi-protein complex that includes an enzyme component. As described in the procedure below, retinoid negative hormones can be identified by their ability to recruit the histone deacetylase enzyme into a complex with the RAR. Accordingly, negative hormones can be identified using a simple in vitro enzyme assay.

EXAMPLE 32 Incubation of an RAR and a Negative Hormone Enhanced the Associated Histone Deacetylase Activity

Histones radiolabeled with [³H]-acetate can serve as a substrate in an assay for histone deacetylase activity. The substrate alternatively can be prepared from cultured tissue culture cells or [³H]-acetate radiolabeled peptide corresponding to the N-terminal 24 amino acids of core histone H4. Measurement of release of [³H]-acetate from these substrates after incubation with cellular extracts from cells which have been treated with RAR ligands allows for assessment of the ability of RAR ligands to promote interactions between the RAR and the repression complex, which is associated with histone deacetylase activity.

Isolation of [³H]-acetate radiolabeled histones from HeLa cells is carried out according to procedures that will be familiar to those having ordinary skill in the art. Whole cell extracts are prepared from HeLa cells that have been treated for 24 hours with 100 nM AGN 193109, 100 nM TTNBP with 100 nM AGN 193109, 10 nM TTNPB or vehicle alone. Extracts are immunoprecipitated using an anti-RAR antibody. Alternatively, cells can be transiently transfected with an expression plasmid for a RAR which encodes an epitope, such as the FLAG epitope (Kodak Biosciences), which allows for use of a commercially available antibody for immunoprecipitation or for adsorption of cellular proteins to such an antibody linked to a solid support. Following imunoprecipitation, antibody-protein complexes are incubated with protein-A beads which are then washed in binding buffer. Cellar proteins co-immunoprecipitated with the RAR are incubated with [³H]-acetate radiolabeled HeLa histones in a 0.5 M sodium phosphate/citric acid buffer (pH 7.0) for 30 minutes at 37° C. Reactions are terminated by the addition of 1 M HCl/0.4M acetic acid, and cinematically released [³H]-acetate is extracted with ethyl acetate and quantitated by scintillation counting.

Results from these procedures indicate that immunoprecipitated complexes that included the RAR isolated from cells treated with AGN 193109-treated cells have significantly increased histone deacetylase activity, as judged by their ability to release more [³H]-acetate into the organic phase compared to control-treated cellular extracts. In contrast, extracts prepared from TTNPB treated cells have less histone deacetylase activity relative to control extracts. This demonstrates that retinoid negative hormones can be identified as compounds that bind to the RAR and promote the formation of a multi-protein complex that includes a histone deacetylase.

The Iq21 region of human chromosome 1 contains 3 families of structurally related genes which play important roles in terminal differentiation of the epidermis (Marenholz et al., Genomics 37:295 (1996; Mischke et al., J. Invest Derm. 106:989 (1996)). The first of these three families includes genes such as loricrin, involucrin and the small proline-rich proteins (SPRRS) that are involved in formation of the cornified envelope (cornified envelope precursor genes). The second family are the S100A proteins (S100A1-S100A10) which contain EF-hand calcium binding domains. MRP-8 is one of the S100A proteins (S100A8). The third family of genes located in Iq21 are the intermediate filament genes which include the profilaggrin and trichobyalin genes. This region has therefore been referred to the Epidermal Differentiation Complex (EDC).

Interestingly, the expression of many of these genes has been demonstrated to be altered in a variety of disease states including disorders of keratinization (Resing et al., “Proteins of Keratohyalin” in Physiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology of the Skin (L. A. Goldsmith, Ed.), pp. 148-167, Oxford Univ. Press, NY (1991); Michels et al., Br. J. Dermatol. 122:15 (1990); Vohwinkel's keratoderma (Maestrini et al., Nature Genet. 13:70 (1996); Korge et al., J Invest. Dermatol 107:481 (1996); and psoriasis. More specifically, the expression of S100A7, S100A8 (MRP-8) and S100A9 are unregulated in the psoriatic epidermis (Hoffmann et al., J. Invest. Dermatol 103:370 (1994); Saintigny et al., J. Invest. Dermatol 99:639 (1992)). In addition, MRP-8 is aberrantly overexpressed in various experimental models of cultured keratinocytes exhibiting an abnormal psoriatic-like phenotype (Nagpal et al., Cell Growth & Differentiation 7:1783 (1996)). This elevation of MRP-8 is repressed by treatment with either an RAR agonist proven to be clinically effective in the treatment of psoriasis or with the RAR negative hormone AGN 193109.

The abnormally elevated expression of lq21 region genes in the psoriatic epidermis suggested to us that the chromatin organization in this region was altered relative to normal epidermis. More specifically, we speculated that the chromatin in the lq21 region of psoriatic cells would exhibit a more open configuration and greater accessibility to transcription factors. As the acetylation state of core histones within the nucleosomes of lq21 chromatin would be predicted to be hyperacetylated during aberrant over-expression of genes within this region, we tested the RAR negative hormone AGN 193109 for its ability to recruit the N-CoR corepressor and the associated repression complex with its associated histone deacetylase activity to the nuclear receptor, and to alter the stability of nucleosomes via analysis of DNAase I hypersensitivity of the MRP-8 gene.

It is appreciated that expression of genes is correlated with accessibility of their cis-regulatory elements to trans-acting transcription factors and an open architecture of the chromatin, often associated with the occurrence of specific sites which have increased sensitivity to the endonuclease DNase-I. The following Example describes how to detect changes in the chromatin structure of genes that are regulated by retinoid negative hormones.

Example 33 described additional methods that can be used for identifying negative hormones.

EXAMPLE 33 Chromatin Analysis of Genes Located within the IQ21 Locus of Human Chromosome

Primary human newborn foreskin keratinocytes are cultured as described by Klein et al., J. Biol. Chem. 37:22692 (1996). Upon reaching 50-70% confluence, the culture media is changed to KGM without hydrocortisone. The following day, cells are treated with KGM and 10% bovine fetal calf serum that has been charcoal stripped (Gemini Bioproducts), together with I μM AGN 193109 or vehicle alone. Cells are fed with fresh media containing either retinoid or vehicle, daily. After 5 days, nuclei are isolated from the cells according to standard laboratory procedures. Isolated nuclei are treated for 3 minutes with DNase-I, reactions are stopped by addition of EDTA and the preparation treated with proteinase K overnight. The resulting genomic DNA is phenol extracted and ethanol precipitated. After restriction enzyme digestion, equal quantities of genomic DNA from control and AGN 193109 treated cells is electrophoretically separated and then Southern Blotted to nitrocellulose. The blot is hybridized to a radiolabeled probe representing a fragment of the human MRP-8 gene, washed to remove non-specifically bound probe and autoradiographed.

Autoradiographic results indicate the presence of a DNaseI hypersensitive site adjacent to the MRP-8 transcription start site in the DNA isolated from control keratinocytes. In contrast, DNA isolated from AGN 193109 treated cultured cells had a DNase-I hypersensitive site which considerably decreased in its signal strength relative to control treated cells. This indicates that a retinoid negative hormone affects chromatin structure of responsive genes.

Example 34 describes the methods used to establish that retinoid agonists can affect gene expression through separate mechanistic pathways.

EXAMPLE 34 RAR Agonists and Negative Hormones Regulate Expression by Mutually Exclusive Mechanisms

Primary newborn human foreskin keratinocytes can be induced to differentiate to a supra-basal phenotype in culture via treatment with serum (Nagpal et al., Cell Growth & Differentiation 7:1783 (1996); Klein et al., J. Biol. Chem. 37:22692 (1996)). Interestingly, some of the differentiation markers induced in this manner are not expressed in normal skin but are expressed in psoriatic epidermis. One of these markers of abnormal differentiation is MRP-8. While both RAR agonists and negative hormones are capable of repressing MRP-8 protein expression when given as single agent treatments, these two distinct types of RAR ligands cancel each other out when given concurrently (Klein et al., J. Biol. Chem. 37:22692 (1996)). More specifically, the repression of MRP-8 mediated by an RAR agonist is inhibited via concurrent treatment with an RAR negative hormone. The converse also is true. We have interpreted this novel result as representing an example by which transcriptional repression is mediated by two distinct and opposing mechanisms.

The cis-active regulatory elements of the human MRP-8 gene which confer retinoid agonist repression have been delineated to elements exhibiting sequence similarity to the consensus DNA binding site for NF-IL6 located in the 5′-flanking region of this gene. Further, this regulatory region of the MRP-8 gene does not contain any recognizable RAREs and would not be expected to bind RARs. Cotransfection of an expression plasmid for NF-IL6 with a reporter plasmid under control o f the 5′-flanking region of the MRP-8 gene leads to activation of the heterologous reporter which is down regulated by RAR agonists. This repression is not seen for cotransfected cells treated with the retinoid negative hormone AGN 193109. Therefore, inhibition of the MRP-8 promoter by RAR-agonists is via cis-active elements distinct from those modulated by the RAR negative hormone AGN 193109. This anti-NF-IL6 activity of RAR agonists is probably mechanistically similar to that which has been proposed for their anti-AP-1 activity (Kamei et al., Cell 85:1 (1996)). Specifically, use of common co-activators by distinct transcription factors has now been proposed to account for their antagonistic behavior. As such, the anti-AP-1 activity of RAR agonists has been proposed to be due to squelching of the AP-1 transcription factor activity via recruitment of the common coactivator CBP (Kamei et al., Cell 85:1 (199) to the nuclear receptor.

The abnormal differentiation state of the psoriatic epidermis is associated with the over expression of a variety of genes, some of which are located in the Epidermal Differentiation Complex. MRP-8 is one example of an EDC gene. Such abnormal gene expression is also seen in cultured human newborn foreskin keratinocytes which have been treated with either fetal calf serum or other differentiating agents such as IFN-γ. We reasoned that over expression of EDC genes may either be a primary cause underlying the disorder of psoriasis, or may be necessary but not sufficient to give rise to the psoriatic phenotype or may exacerbate the disorder. Whether one or more than one of the genes of the EDC are involved in the pathophysiology of the initiation or maintenance of the psoriatic phenotype is at this time not known.

The ability of an RAR negative hormone such as AGN 193109 to recruit NCoR and the proteins of the repression complex to the RAR will lead to an increase in the histone deacetylase activity associated with the RAR. As a result, the chromatin structure nearby will be more compact and less available to transcription actors due to deacetylation of core histones.

Our working model that accounts for the mutual exclusion observed between RAR agonists and negative hormones in the repression of MRP-8 in serum treated cultured keratinocytes invokes ligand binding to a common RAR target, yet with different consequences. Agonist binding causes the formation of complexes that include coactivators while negative hormone binding causes the formation of complexes that include a corepressor. We envision that the RAR binds DNA within the lq21 locus. The MRP-8 gene transcription control region comprises NF-IL6 regulatory elements which stimulate expression of this gene in keratinocytes. Other genes of the lq21 locus are also overexpressed in this model. Binding of the RAR agonist TTNPB to the RAR leads to recruitment of a coactivator to this nuclear receptor. Competition between RAR and NFIL-6 for this coactivator results in decreased NF-IL6 mediated transcription of the MRP-8 gene. In contrast, treatment with the RAR negative hormone AGN 193109 leads to ligand mediated recruitment of N-CoR and the associated repression complex to the RAR(s), hence the deacetylation of core histones results in tighter packing of nucleosomes within lq21 and reduced expression of the MRP-8 gene. Coadministration of both TTNPB and ANG 193109 would lead to competition between these two RAR ligands for binding to the RAR, resulting in their mutual antagonism of the distinct activity associated with each ligand.

Our surprising discovery of mutual antagonism between agonists and negative hormones led us to envision a model wherein regulation of gene expression by negative hormones and agonists occurs through distinct pathways. More particularly, we envision that negative hormones can silence the expression of other genetic loci associated with other as yet undefined disorders.

Method of Treating Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a particular example of a common, recurrent, inflammatory skin disease. The thickened, scaly, erythematous lesions of psoriasis are characterized by epidermal hyperproliferation, abnormal keratinocyte differentiation and infiltration of immune cells into the epidermis and dermis (Krueger et al., Invest. Dermatol 102:14S (1994)). Tazarotene (AGN 190168) is an RAR-specific synthetic retinoid known to be therapeutically effective in the treatment of psoriasis (Esgleyes-Ribot et al., J 4m. Acad. Dermatol 30:581 (1994); Weinstein et al., J Invest. Dermatol 15:104 (1995)). This compound is available as a prescription drug in the United States under the brand name TAZORAC, and in the rest of the world as ZORAC, for clinical management of psoriasis. While endeavoring to better understand its mechanism of action in psoriasis, we found that this compound inhibited the expression of migration inhibitory factor related protein (MRP-8) and stomelysin-1, both of which are markers of inflammation in models of psoriasis (Nagpal et al., J Biol. Chem. 270:923 (1995); Nagpal et al., Cell Growth & Differentiation 7:1783 (1996)). Tazarotene was also found to inhibit the expression of MRP-8 in vivo in psoriatic lesions (Nagpal et al., Cell Growth & Differentiation 7:1783 (1996)). Interestingly, the RAR negative hormone AGN 193109 was also capable of repressing the expression of MRP-8 (Klein et al., J Biol. Chem. 37:22692 (1996)), and stromelysin-1 in cultured primary keratinocytes.

MRP-8 (or calgranulin A) is expressed in chronic inflammatory diseases, such as, psoriasis, primary chromic polyarthritis and cystic fibrosis (Odink et al., Nature 330:80 (1987); Madsen et al. J Invest. Dermatol. 99:299 (1992); Barthe et al., Biochem. Biophys. Acta. 1096:175 (1991)) and is abundant in neutrophils, monocytes and psoriatic keratinocytes (Hessian et al. J Leukoc. Biol. 53:197 (1993)). MRP-8 also is a marker of abnormal or hyperproliferative differentiation in epidermal keratinocytes. It is induced within 24 hours in skin explants and is present in epidermis in all inflammatory diseases that have been tested (Kelly et al., J. Pathol. 159:17 (1989); Clark et al., J Pathol. 160:25 (1990)). Interestingly, MRP-8 displays a striking degree (73%) of identity at the amino acid level to murine cytokine CP-10, a chemotactic factor for polymorphonuclear cells and macrophages (Lackmann et a., J Immunol. 150:2981 (1993)). MRP-8 may function as a chemokine in human skin. In this regard, we note that the presence of inflammatory infiltrate of polymorphonuclear lymphocytes (Munro microabscesses) is a hallmark of psoriatic lesions. Thus, the downregulation of MRP-8 is an indicator of the anti-inflammatory activity of Tazarotene and the negative hormone, AGN 193109.

Various inflammatory and hyperproliferative conditions appear to be maintained or perpetuated by the products of genes which are under the control of an AP-1 (Activator Protein-1) motif. For example, UV photodamage of human skin induces AP-1-responsive metalloproteases, collagenase, stromelysin-1 and 92 kDa gelatinase, and retinoic acid inhibits their expression. AP-1 is also implicated in cell proliferation, and retinoids inhibit the growth of various cancer cells. Therefore, antagonism of AP-1-dependent gene expression may be an important underlying mechanism of therapeutic action of retinoids in photodamaged skin as well as in psoriasis (Nagpal et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:923 (1995)). Both Tazarotene and the negative hormone, AGN 193109, also inhibit the AP1-dependent gene expression of human stromelysin-1 in primary keratinocytes.

Accordingly, the RAR negative hormone AGN 193109 displays potential anti-inflammatory activity by downregulating the expression of two markers of inflammation in vitro models of psoriasis. Since psoriasis responds in the clinic to pure anti-inflammatory interventions, we concluded that negative hormones also will be therapeutically effective for treating psoriasis.

It is important to recognize that AGN 193109 is but one of a class of retinoid hormones having inverse agonist activity. As demonstrated in FIG. 8 and the accompanying text, AGN 193385, AGN 193389, and AGN 193871 were all demonstrated able to repress the high basal expression of a ERE-tk-Luc reporter gene under transcriptional control of the constitutive transcription activator RAR construct RAR-γ-VP-16, and thus were shown to have negative hormone activities. While AGN 193109 was chosen as the model compound to discover and demonstrate additional properties of negative hormones as shown herein, other negative hormones such as AGN 194310, have been shown to have similar characteristics in the same assay formats as shown herein for AGN 193109. The following Examples demonstrate that such other negative hormones also function through a pathway that involves a physical association with corepressor molecules, and that these additional negative hormones are also able to suppress the expression of MRP-8, as shown in Example 31 for AGN 193109.

EXAMPLE 35 Synthesis of AGN 194310

AGN 194310 is a retinoid negative hormone having activities similar to that demonstrated above for AGN 193109. AGN 194310 may be synthesized as follows:

-   1. 3-(4-methoxy-phenylsulfanyl)-3-methyl-butyric acid. A     heavy-walled screw cap tube was charged with 3-methyl-2-butenoic     acid (13.86 g. 138.4 mmol), 4-methoxy thiophenol (20.0 g. 138.4     mmol), and piperidine (3.45 g. 41.6 mmol). This mixture was heated     to 0.5° C. for 32 hours, cooled to room temperature and dissolved in     EtOAc (700 mL). The resulting solution was washed with 1M aqueous     HCl, H₂O, and saturated aqueous NaCl before being dried over Na₂SO₄.     Concentration of the dry solution under reduced pressure afforded an     oil which upon standing in the freezer provided a crystalline solid.     3-(4-methoxy-phenylsulfanyl)-3-methyl-butyric acid was isolated     using a pentane wash as pale-yellow crystals (27.33 g. 82%). ¹H NMR     (300 MHz, CDCl₃ δ: 7.48 (2H, d, J=9.0 Hz), 6.89 (2H, d, J=8.9 Hz),     3.83 (3H, s), 2.54 (2H, s). 1.40 (6H, s). -   2. 3-(4-methoxy-phenylsulfanyl-3-methyl-butyroyl chloride. To a     solution of 3-(4-methoxy-phenylsulfanyl)-3-methyl-butyric acid     (20.0 g. 83.2 mmol) in 250 ml, of benzene at room temperature was     added a solution of oxalyl chloride (15.84 g. 124.8 mmol) in 10 ml,     of benzene over 30 minutes. After 4h, the solution was washed with     ice cold 5% aqueous NaOH (CAUTION: a large volume of gas is released     during this procedure) followed by ice cold H₂O, and finally     saturated aqueous NaCl. The solution was dried (Na₂SO₄) and     concentrated under reduced pressure to give a clear yellow oil. This     material (3-(4-methoxy-phenylsulfanyl)-3-methyl-butyroyl chloride)     was used without further purification in the next step. ¹H NMR (300     MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 7.45 (2H, d, J=8.8 Hz), 3.84 (3H, s), 3.12 (2H, s,     1.41 (6H, s). -   3. 6-Methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-thiochroman-4-one. A solution of SnCl₄     (21.7 g. 83.2 mmol) in 30 mL of CH₂Cl₂ was added dropwise to a     solution of the acyl chloride produced in the previous step(21.5 g.     83.2 mmol.), which was dissolved in 250 mL of CH₂Cl₂ and incubated     at 0° C. After 2 hours the reaction was quenched by the slow     addition of 150 mL H₂O. The organic layer was washed with 1M aqueous     HCl, 5% aqueous NaOH, H₂O, and finally saturated aqueous NaCl before     being dried over MgSO₄. Concentration under reduced pressure and     vacuum distillation of the residual oil (Bulb-to-bulb, 125-135° C.,     5 mm/Hg) afforded 14.48 g (78%) of the title compound     (6-Methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-thiochroman-4-one) as a pale-yellow oil. ¹H     NMR (300 MHz. CDCl₃) δ: 7.62 (1H, d, J=2.9 Hz), 7.14 (1H, d, J=8.6     Hz), 7.03 (1H, dd, J=2.8, 8.3 Hz), 3.83 (3H, s), 2.87 (2H, s), 1.46     (6H, s). -   4. 6-Hydroxy-2,2-dimethylthiochroman-4-one. To a solution of     6-methoxy-2,2-dimethylthiochroman-4-one (6.0 g. 27 mmol) in 50 ml,     CH₂Cl₃) cooled to −23° C. was added BBr₃ (20.0 g. 80.0 mmol; 80.0 mL     of a 1M solution in CH₂Cl₂ over a 20 minute period. After stirring     for 5 h at −23° C. the solution was cooled to −78° C. and quenched     by the slow addition of 50 mL of H₂O. Upon warming to room     temperature the aqueous layer was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ and the     combined organic layers washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, H₂O     and saturated aqueous NaCl before being dried over MgSO₄. Removal of     the solvents under reduced pressure gave a green-brown solid which     upon recrystalization (Et₂O/hexanes) afforded 2.25 g (40%)     6-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylthiochroman-4-one as a light brown solid. ¹H     NMR (300 MHz. CDCl₃) δ:7.63 (1H, d, J=2.8 Hz), 7.15 (1H, d, J=8.5     Hz), 7.01 (1H, dd, J=2.8, 8.5 Hz), 2.87 (2H, s), 1.46 (6H, s). -   5. 2,2-Dimethyl-4-oxo-thiochroman-6-yl trifluoromethanesulfonate. To     a solution of 6-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylthiochroman-4-one (165.0 mg.     0.79 mmol) in 5.0 mL of anhydrous pyridine at 0° C. was added     trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (245.0 mg. 0.87 mmol). After 4 h     at 0° C. the solution was concentrated and the residual oil     dissolved in Et₂O, washed with H₂O followed by saturated aqueous     NaCl, and dried over MgSO₄. Removal of the solvents under reduced     pressure and column chromatography (5% EtOAc/hexanes) afforded 126.0     mg (47%) of 2,2-dimethyl-4-oxo-thiochroman-6-yl     trifluoromethanesulfonate as a colorless solid. ¹H NMR (300 MHz,     CDCl₃) δ: 7.97 (1H, s), 7.32 (2H, s), 2.90(2H, s), 1.49 (6H, s). -   6. 2,2-Dimethyl-6-trimethylsilanylethynyl-thiochroman-4-one. A     solution of 2,2-dimethyl-4-oxo-thiochroman-6-yl     trifluoromethanesulfonate (2.88 g. 8.50 mmol) in 10 mL Et₃N and 20.0     ml, DMF was sparged with argon for 10 minutes. To this solution was     added trimethylsilylacetylene (4.15 g. 42.0 mmol) and     bis(triphenylphosphine)-palladium(II) chloride (298.0 mg. 0.425     mmol). The solution was heated to 95° C, for 5 h, cooled to room     temperature, and diluted with H₂O. Extraction with EtOAc was     followed by washing the combined organic layers with H₂O and     saturated aqueous NaCl and drying over MgSO₄. Concentration of the     dry solution under reduce pressure and isolation of the product by     column chromatography (3% EtOAc/hexanes) afforded 2.23 g (91%) of     2,2-dimethyl-trimethylsilanylethynyl-thiochroman-4-one as an orange     oil. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 8.18 (1H, d, J=1.9 Hz), 7.34 (1H,     dd, J=1.9, 8.2 Hz), 7.15 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 2.85 (2H, s), 1.45 (6H,     s), 0.23 (9H0, s). -   7. 6-Ethynyl-2,2-dimethylthiochroman-4-one. A solution of     2,2-Dimethyl-6-trimethylsilanylethynyl-thiochroman-4-one (110.0 mg.     0.38 mmol) and K₂CO₃ (40.0 mg. 0.29 mmol) in 10.0 ml, MeOH was     stirred overnight at room temperature. The solution was diluted with     H₂O and extracted with Et₂O. The combined organic layers were washed     with H₂O and saturated aqueous NaCl and dried over MgSO₄. Removal of     the solvent under reduced pressure afforded 81 mg (99%) of the title     compound (6-ethynyl-2,2-dimethylthiochroman-4-one) as an orange oil.     ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ:8.20 (1H, d, J=1.9 Hz), 7.46 (1H, dd,     J=1.9, 8.1 Hz), 7.18 (1H, d, J=8.1 Hz), 3.08 (1H, s), 2.86 (2H, s),     1.46 (6H, s). -   8. Ethyl 4-[(2,2-dimethyl-4-oxo-thiochroman-6-yl)ethynyl]-benzoate.     A solution of 6-ethynyl-2,2-dimethylthiochroman-4-one (82.0 mg. 0.38     mmol) and ethyl 4-iodobenzoate (104.9 mg. 0.38 mmol.) in 5.0 mL Et₃N     was purged with argon for 10 minutes. To this solution was added     bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II) chloride (88.0 mg. 0.12 mmol)     and copper (I) iodide (22.9 mg. 0.12 mmol). After sparging for an     additional 5 minutes with argon, the solution was stirred overnight     at room temperature. The reaction mixture was filtered through a pad     of Celite using an Et₂O wash. Concentration of the filtrate under     reduced pressure, followed by column chromatography of the residual     solid afforded 100 mg (72%) of ethyl     4-[(2,2-dimethyl-4-oxo-thiochroman-6-yl)ethynyl]-benzoate as a     yellow solid. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 8.25 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz),     8.00 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.55 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.53 (1H, dd, J=1.8,     8.2 Hz), 7.21 (1H, d, J=8.2 Hz), 4.37 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.88 (2H,     s), 1.47 (6H, s), 1.39 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz). -   9. Ethyl     4-((2,2-dimethyl-4-trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy-(2H)-thiochromen-6-yl)ethynyl)-benzoate.     A solution of sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (1.12 g. 6.13 mmol.)     in 16.2 mL of THF was cooled to −78° C. and a solution of ethyl     4-(2,2-dimethyl-4-oxo-thiochroman-6-yl)-ethynyl)-benzoate (1.86 g.     5.10 mmol) in 15.0 mL slowly added. After 30 minutes a solution of     2-[N,N-bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amino]-5-pyridine (2.40 g. 6.13     mmol) in 10 mL of THF. After 5 minutes the solution was warmed to     room temperature and stirred overnight. The reaction was quenched by     the addition of saturated aqueous NH₄Cl and extracted with EtOAc.     The combined organic layers were washed with 5% aqueous NaOH and H₂O     before being dried (MgSO₄) and concentrated under reduced pressure.     Ethyl     4-((2,2-dimethyl-4-trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy-(2H)-thiochromen-6-yl)ethynyl)-benzoate,     53 g (61%), was isolated by column chromatography (2% EtOAc/hexanes)     as a yellow solid. ¹H NMR (300 MHz. CDCl₃) δ: 8.03 (2H, d, J=8.4     Hz), 7.61 (1H, d, J=1.8 Hz), 7.59 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.41 (1H, dd,     J=1.8, 8.1 Hz), 7.29 (1H, d. J=8.1 Hz), 5.91 (1H, s), 4.39 (2H, q,     J=7.1 Hz), 1.53 (6H, s), 1.41 (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz). -   10. Ethyl     4-[[4-(4-ethylphenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-(2H)-thiochromen-6-yl]-ethynyl]-benzoate.     A solution of 4-ethylbromobenzene (670.9 mg. 3.63 mmol) in 4.0 mL of     THF was cooled to −78° C. and tert-butyllithium (464.5 mg. 7.25     mmol, 4.26 mL of a 1.7M solution in pentane) was added to give a     yellow solution. After 30 min a solution of ZnCl₂ (658.7 mg. 4.83     mmol) in 8.0 ml, THF was slowly added via cannula. The resulting     solution was warmed to room temperature and transferred via cannula     to a solution of ethyl     4(2,2-dimethyl-4-trifluoromethanesulfonyloxy-(2H)-thiochromen-6-yl)ethynyl)-benzoate     (1.20 g. 2.42 mmol) and tetrakis (triphenylphosphine) palladium(0)     (111.7 mg. 0.097 mmol) in 8.0 mL THF. This solution was heated to     50° C. for 1 h, cooled to room temperature, and the reaction     quenched by the addition of saturated aqueous NH₄Cl. This solution     was extracted with EtOAc and the combined organic layers washed with     H₂O and saturated aqueous NaCl before being dried (MgSO₄) and     concentrated under reduced pressure. Ethyl     4-[[4-(4-ethylphenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-(2H)-thiochromen-6-yl]-ethynyl]-benzoate     was isolated by column chromatography (5% EtOAc/hexanes) as a     colorless oil. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ: 7.99 (2 h, D, j=8.2 Hz),     7.52 (2H, d, J=8.4 Hz), 7.40 (5H, m), 7.35 (2H, m), 5.85 (1H, s),     4.38 (2H, q, J=7.1 Hz), 2.72 (2H, q, J=7.6 Hz), 1.48 (6H, s), 1.40     (3H, t, J=7.1 Hz), 1.30 (3H, t, J=7.6 Hz). -   11.     4-[[4-(4-ethylphenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-(2H)-thiochromen-6-yl]-ethynyl]-benzoic     acid. To a solution of ethyl     4-[[4-(4-ethylphenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-(2H)-thiochromen-6-yl]-ethynyl]-benzoate     (940.0 mg. 2.08 mmol) in 10.0 mL THF and 5.0 mL EtOH was added NaOH     (416.0 mg, 10.4 mmol, 5.2 mL of a 2M aqueous solution). The     resulting solution was stirred overnight at room temperature. The     reaction was acidified with 10% aqueous HCl and extracted with     EtOAc. The combined organic layers were washed with H₂O, saturated     aqueous NaCl, and dried (Na₂SO₄) before removing the solvent under     reduced pressure. The residual solid was recrystallized from CH₃CN     to give 786.0 mg (89%) of     4-[[4-(4-ethylphenyl)-2,2-dimethyl-(2H)-thiochromen-6-yl]-ethynyl]-benzoic     acid as a colorless solid. ¹NMR (300 MHz, d₃ acetone) δ: 8.01 (2H,     d, J=8.3 Hz), 7.60 (2H, d, J=8.5 Hz), 7.42 (2H, m), 7.29 (2H, m),     7.22 (3H, m), 5.94 (1H, s), 2.69 (2H, 1, J=7.7 Hz), 1.47 (6H, s),     1.25 (3H, t, J=7.7 Hz). This compound is hereinafter designated as     AGN 194310.

EXAMPLE 36 AGN 194310 Induces Physical Interaction Between RAR-γ and A Corepressor

Expression plasmids pACT-RAR-γ and pAS-N-CoR, encoding the ligand binding and ligand-dependent transactivation regions of RAR-γ, and the full length N-CoR corepressor, constructed as described in Example 32 above, were used to transform Saccharomyces cereviciae strain Y190 using standard laboratory protocols. As in Example 32, the fusion protein expressed by pAS-N-CoR contains the N-CoR protein fused to the Gal-4 DNA binding domain, and the protein expressed by pACT-RAR-γ contains the activation domain of Gal-4 joined to RAR-γ. Upon an interaction between the RAR-γ and N-CoR moieties of the fusion proteins the DNA binding and transactivation domains of GAL-4 are brought into proximity, and will transcribe a GAL-4 promoter positioned upstream of a yeast gene encoding β-galactosidase.

Assays for β-galactosidase were conducted as in Example 32. Transformed yeast cells were treated with 1 μM AGN 194310 in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or DMSO alone for approximately 24 hours. Following treatment, the yeast cells were lysed by freezing in liquid nitrogen, then thawed at 37° C. The crude lysates were subjected to centrifugation in a microfuge, and the supernatants used for determination of β-galactosidase activity.

Results of this assay paralleled the results obtained using the same yeast/plasmid system and AGN 193109 as the negative hormone. A retinoid-dependent increase in enzymatic activity, indicating an interaction between the fusion proteins, was observed upon treatment of the cells with AGN 194310 as compared with the DMSO negative control. The results are as follows:

TABLE 14 β-Galactosidase Activity (units) Control (DMSO) 0.82 AGN 194310 5.10

This example therefore shows that the inverse agonist AGN 194310, like AGN 193109, promotes a change in conformation of the RAR receptor resulting in the ability of RAR to physically bind to the corepressor N-CoR. Thus, the ability of inverse agonists to binding corepressors and/or a complex comprising such corepressors appears to be a common quality of such molecules, and can be used as a general screening methodology for the screening not only of inverse agonists of the retinoid receptors, but of other members of the nuclear receptor superfamily, including, but not limited to the various steroid receptors, thyroid receptors, and Vitamin D receptors.

EXAMPLE 37 AGN 194310 Represses Expression of MRP-8 in Human Foreskin Keratinocytes

As shown in Example 31 for AGN 193109, the inverse agonist AGN 194310 was used to treat human foreskin keratinocytes in culture. The assay was performed as described in Example 31; cell lysates were electrophoresed on a polyacrylamide gel, and the gel subjected to Western analysis using the monoclonal anti-MRP-8 antibody, CF-145.

Treatment of the cells with increasing dosages of AGN 194310 resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in MRP-8 expression, which can be seen in FIG. 21, a densitometry scan of the Western blot, with over 90% inhibition of MRP-8 expression seen when the cells were treated at a concentration of 10⁻⁶M. As stated above, MRP-8 is not detectably expressed in normal epidermal cells, but is highly expressed in psoriatic tissue. It is therefore likely that treatment of psoriatic tissue with retinoid RAR inverse agonists such as AGN 193109 and AGN 194310 will have therapeutic value in alleviating symptoms of psoriasis.

EXAMPLE 38 Method of Treating a Patient Having Psoriasis

A population of adult volunteers having large psoriatic plaques is first identified and then randomly divided into two groups. One group is a control group to be treated with a placebo while the other (test) group is to be treated with a composition containing the retinoid negative hormone, AGN 194310. The treatment protocol and assessment of drug efficacy is performed essentially as described by Esgleyes-Ribot et al., in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology 30:581 (1994).

The AGN 194310 compound is combined into a cream comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and 0.05% of the retinoid negative hormone. The cream is formulated using materials and methods familiar to one having ordinary skill in the art. A placebo consists of the carrier alone and does not contain any retinoid.

Participants in the experimental protocol are appropriately treated either with the placebo or with the cream containing the retinoid. The psoriatic plaques of individuals in the control group are treated with the placebo twice daily for a period of two weeks. Similarly, the psoriatic plaques of individuals in the test group are treated with the composition containing retinoid twice daily for the same period.

Individuals administered with the retinoid show clinical improvement after the first two weeks of treatment. In this context, clinical improvement is assessed by erythema, induration and scaling. Immunohistochemical analysis of standard markers indicates that normalization of skin histology parallels the clinical improvement observed in lesions treated with the composition containing the retinoid negative hormone. Similarly, expression of inflammatory markers is reduced in biopsies obtained from lesions treated with the composition containing the retinoid negative hormone. Few if any members of the control group show clinical improvement. These findings indicate the retinoid negative hormone is effective as a psoraisis treatment, and that treatment of psoriatic lesions with the placebo alone had no beneficial effect.

EXAMPLE 39 Methods of Screening for Inverse Agonists of Members of the Nuclear Receptor Superfamily

The present specification has detailed the discovery of, and illustrated methods for the screening of retinoid inverse agonists, particularly those having specificity for the RAR nuclear receptor. However, the present specification has also made clear that the retinoid nuclear receptors RAR and RXR are members of a superfamily of hormone receptors, most nuclear although some are found in the cytoplasm, which includes receptors for steroid and thyroid hormones, vitamin D₃ and the ecdysteriods, all of which share specific characteristic features and regions of amino acid sequence conservation. By “nuclear receptor” is meant a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, whether or not said receptor is normally found in the nucleus. Thus, the members of this superfamily share features including a ligand binding domain, a sequence-specific DNA binding domain able to bind a corresponding response element in the 5′ region of the gene or portion thereof to be regulated, a leucine zipper motif permitting the dimerization of various monomers of these receptors, and a ligand-dependent transactivation domain.

Additionally, we have identified numerous methods for identifying whether a given compound is a retinoid inverse agonist. We have presented here evidence that a certain class of compounds, which we identify as inverse agonists or negative hormones, will confer a corepressor-attractive conformation upon a receptor, and that the inverse agnoist:receptor complex will lower the basal level of expression of a gene under the transcriptional control of that receptor in the absence of an agonist for that receptor. We have also shown that through a “cross talk” phenomenon, or a shifting of the intracellular equilibrium of available repressor molecules through recruitment by the inverse agonist:receptor complex, the expression of genes regulated by receptors other than retinoid receptors may be affected.

Based on these findings, we have proposed a number of screening methods for determining whether a compound is an inverse agonist. Thus, in a cotransfection assay using a plasmid expressing a constitutive transactivating receptor, an inverse agonist can be identified by lowering the basal level or expression of a reporter gene having the appropriate hormone response element. Additionally, we have shown that inverse agonists can be identified by their ability to promote binding of a corepressor, or to induce changes in chromatin structure.

Smith et al., Mol. Endocrinol. 11:657 (1997) and Jackson et al., Mol. Endocrinol. 11:693 (1997), incorporated by reference above, confirm that such methods are general, viable methods for the identification of inverse agonists of members of the nuclear receptor superfamily. This, the former paper shows that the corepressor SMRT is able to bind to the estrogen receptor, as has the coactivator SRC-1. Likewise, Jackson et al. show that, binding of certain compounds to steroid receptors such as the progesterone and estrogen receptor acts to recruit transcriptional corepressors, which binding of an agonist recruits coactivators, exactly as set forth in FIG. 9 hereof.

Thus, these results are consistent with our findings which suggest that the transcriptional modulation of a target gene regulated by a nuclear receptor is governed by the interaction of the receptor with a coactivator or corepressor. When treated with ligand or an analog (such as a reverse agonist) of the natural ligand, there is a change in the ability of the receptor to bind one or the other of these co-factors, leading to up- or down-regulation of the target gene.

The methods we have set forth herein are general methods for the identification of inverse agonists of any member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, including, but not limited to the retinoid, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, PPAR, thyroid hormone, vitamin D and glucocorticoid receptors. These methods are fully described and extensively enabled herein. It would be a matter of routine for the person of ordinary skill in the art to substitute all or the appropriate portions of these receptors (including the ligand binding and the ligand-dependent transactivation regions), or the coding regions of the genes encoding them, for the corresponding retinoic acid receptors demonstrated above, and to use ligands for those receptors in place of the retinoids in such screens. 

1. A method for determining whether a compound is an inverse agonist of a retinoid receptor comprising the steps: a) contacting a polypeptide comprising a ligand binding region and a ligand dependent transactivation region of said retinoid receptor with a test compound in the presence of a reporter gene, wherein the expression of said reporter gene is sensitive to stimulation by said retionoid receptor in the presence of an agonist of said retinoid receptor, and b) determining the ability said polypeptide to stimulate expression of said reporter gene in the presence of said test compound as compared to the ability of said polypeptide to stimulate expression of said reporter gene in the basal state, said basal state occurring in the absence of a ligand of said retinoid receptor, wherein repression of the ability of said polypeptide to stimulate expression of said reporter gene in the presence of the test compound relative to the basal state according to step b indicates that the test compound is an inverse agonist.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said reporter gene is integrated into the chromosome of a host cell.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein said reporter gene is comprised in a plasmid expressed by a host cell.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said reporter gene encodes a protein having an activity selected from the group consisting of a luciferase activity and a β-galactosidase activity. 